The Amazing Healing Power of Deep Tissue Massage

What Is Deep Tissue Massage?
by Eugene Wood

NYC-Massage.com

Deep Tissue Massage is an ancient practice. People from ancient Egypt and Greece were the first ones to master the technique and discover its many health benefits. Its close modern replica is what we know today as Swedish massage. Only a well-trained Deep Tissue Massage Therapist who undergoes intensive years of training to gain a license and certification, proper knowledge, and know-how to perform the technique is qualified to do this.

How Deep Tissue Massage Works

Deep tissue massage therapy involves providing slow stroke massages with ample pressure to reach the sub-layer of the patient's musculature system and to realign the deep layers of the connective tissues. Its main goal is to provide relief to most chronic ailments our body experiences because of our strenuous activities, everyday stressors, or acquired injuries.

Chronic tension and injury to our muscles, ligaments, and tendons can cause adhesions that could restrain the proper flow of blood, limit movement, and thus, cause repeated pain. Adhesions are in forms of rigid tissues and when deep tissue massage therapy is applied, it gradually breaks down the adhesion and restores body's proper function.

Who Can Benefit from Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage does not guarantee relief of all chronic pain and body ailments.  Mostly, athletes take advantage of this massage. The constant wearing and tearing of their connective tissues and joints can cause them tremendous pain and discomfort. Two to three sessions of deep tissue massage therapy cannot only alleviate their pain, but can also improve their performance.

It can help them relieve their back and knee pain, sore shoulders, muscle strains and tightness, sore heels, shin splints, tendonitis, and even stiff necks. This therapy, however, is not always advisable to treating injuries. Only superficial injuries can be consulted. It is not advisable for injuries like fracture, sprains, dislocations, and cuts.

Even our senior citizens who suffer from arthritis, high blood pressure, and migraines can seek help from a deep tissue massage therapist. Deep massages can improve circulation of blood, thus relieving sore pains and lowering blood pressure.

The Healing Power of Deep Tissue Massage

Aside from alleviating chronic pain and improving blood flow, this therapy can also help correct postural problems and eliminate osteoarthritis. Deep massages can reach down into the spinal areas and gradually improve the spinal structure and balance.

Women who suffer from menopausal disorders like Fibromyalgia may also benefit from this therapy. Deep massages can sooth the senses and provide relaxation, making it easy for menopausal women to have a calm mind, and therefore, eliminates psychological tendencies of feeling pain all over the body.

It can also improve the wellness of the heart. When faced with our daily stressors, our heart has the tendency to beat faster in order to accommodate the speed of blood flow rushing. Consistent visits to your deep tissue therapist can help reduce stressors and thus, improve heart rate and provide heightened relaxation.

Advanced Techniques

There are different techniques applied during deep massages, such as trigger point or rolfing, but one thing should be expected; they will use many parts of their body, which ever suits the area, to lessen your pain. They can use their bare hands, their fingers, their knuckles, forearms, and even their elbows. Regular massage for pain relief is very effective.

And since the goal is to reach into the deep muscles, ligaments, and tissues, it is only normal to feel pain. If the pain you experience is not tolerable, then your therapist must immediately be made aware. However, the more sessions you receive, the more your pain tolerance increases.

With its much help comes its limitations. This therapy is not applicable for women who are pregnant, those who are undergoing chemotherapy, and those who have skin diseases, anemia, osteoporosis, abdominal hernia, and skin ailments.

Although, it can provide several benefits, it is still advisable to consult your physician first before seeking its help. There are some areas in the body that is very crucial, such as your spine and neck. Though, there has been no accounts of any malpractice, it would be best to be on the safe side. Deep tissue massage has been an ancient practice that has provided comfort and relief, which up until how has been widely used to help millions benefit from its magic touch.

Myofascial Release Therapy is Fascia-nating

Myofascial Release Therapy is Fascia-nating

Man getting Myofascial Release Therapy

The Latin word fascia means "band, bandage, ribbon, swathe." Other words used to describe this connective tissue, which surrounds our muscles, blood vessels and nerves like saran wrap, include "fluid web, weaving, matrix."

However you chose to describe this flexible swathe of tissue, it is important to know the essential role it plays in our bodies.

Fascia is the most abundant tissue in the body, making up 60% of our bodyweight.  It envelopes and isolates each and every one of our muscles, providing structural support and protection. It binds some groups of muscle and fiber together, while allowing others to slide smoothly over each other.

If you've ever skinned a chicken, you've encountered fascia. It's the whitish tissue between the skin and muscle of the meat.  Fasciae (the plural of fascia) are similar to ligaments and tendons, as they are all made of collagen. The tissue can be injured, manipulated and healed.

Imagine fascia as a full-body matrix. Due to its fluid connectivity, it is able to communicate throughout your system, affecting joints, posture, mobility, and even organ function. Therefore, when there is a snag in the web - caused by trauma, poor posture, or biochemical stress - the fluidity of the fascia is disrupted. And this equals pain.

Fascial pain is one of the most undiagnosed problems among patients today. Often disguised as musculoskeletal injury, fascia is overlooked as the cause of acute and chronic pain. Therefore, traditional therapies such as stretching and strength building do not address the fascia. But in order to heal, this connective tissue, which has its own nervous system, needs to be repaired.

Myofascial Release (myo is the Latin word for muscle) is the process of applying gentle sustained pressure to fascial adhesions in order to eliminate pain and restore motion. Myofascial Release is one of the techniques I use in my practice and have seen extraordinary results. When the fascial planes are relieved from compression, it is hard to imagine a condition that will not benefit from this type of massage.

Releasing fascial adhesions allows the fascia to retain its full flexibility, loosening its grip on muscles and freely gliding between fibers. Blood and nutrients can once again reach injured tissues. This not only restores structural support and mobility, but it relieves you from pain.

For more information on Myofascial Release Therapy, visit my website.

Healthyfully Yours
Eugene Wood LMT
NYC Massage

The Best Stretching Exercising You Can Do At Home

There are a lot of great stretching exercises that help to alleviate stress in the body and warm up all of the muscles. Many of the better stretches turn into a full body stretch, allowing you to gain more flexibility in the body and improve your movements. 

Woman Stretching her Back

If you spend 15 minutes on stretching exercises every morning, it will better prepare you for the rest of the day.

Stretch 1 – Back Extensors

This is a good stretch because it will help to stretch the entire spine, and it's great for people that regularly get a Theraputic Massage. For those of you who spend time in an office chair all day, it will prevent you from slouching and provide you with better posture. Throughout the postural muscles, there is a weakness found in a lot of people. This can help to strengthen these muscles, keeping you more erect.

To perform the stretch, sit up and hold your upper abs. Breath in and stretch your spine. Let your shoulders and next relax. Now contract the abs and that will release and relax the erector spinae muscle group. Now lean forward with a straight back and reach for your ankles. Pull to the barrier and hold for two seconds. Then release and return to neutral. You can repeat this stretch several times.

You will notice the stretch going into the lower lumbar region of your back. Since this is going to stretch three muscles within your back, you will notice a big difference after doing these stretches a few days in a row.

Stretch 2 – Hip Flexors

When you’re stretching your body, you also want to stretch muscles that will help with your overall mobility. This hip flexor is going to stretch your Psoas Major and Minor. Whether you play sports or not, it will help to open your stride and make all of your movements more efficient. The hip flexor is the major muscle responsible for your posture. This will stretch from your upper thigh down through the attachments of your lower lumbar.

To get started, rest one knee on a pillow. Keep your back straight, your stomach tight and your pelvis neutral. If your right knee is on the pillow, then your right hand should be on your hip. The other hand should be on your other knee, which is at a 90 degree angle. Take a deep breath, keeping your arms and shoulders relaxed.

You will want to stretch the muscles in your gluteus maximus (buttocks). Tighten your buttocks and extend your hip. Push forward from the hip and keep your hand passive. Then keep pushing until you’re just a little sore. Hold for two seconds and then return to a neutral position. You can do this stretch several times. To avoid any kind of strain, make sure your knee does not go past the front of your foot.

Stretch 3 – Spine Rotator

Your spine contains a total of 24 vertebrae and each need to move on their own to have the best possible motion. The way to ensure this happens is through stretch. Using the spine rotator stretch, you will be able to practice a rotational movement that allows you to strengthen the back muscles.

Sit down and keep your back as straight as possible. Cross one leg over the other and relax. Use your palms to balance and breathe deep. Elongate and rotate the spine. Breathe out and rotate your spine as far as you can go. Place your arm at your knee to provide leverage. Turn your head at the same time as though you’re looking over your shoulder. Hold the pose for two seconds and repeat the stretch several times.

Throughout the stretch, you will be stimulating the synovial fluids which are responsible for lubricating the joints. From the base of the spine to the base of the neck, the stretch covers it all. People with chronic back pain should consider a Massage for Pain Relief.

Stretch 4 – Outside Lateral Gluteus Maximus

The main advantage to this stretch is that it will strengthen your pelvis. This helps with back alignment and running as well. Your spinal mobility can be improved and you will take some of the weight off your spine when performing the stretch.

Lie on your back with a raised knee 90 degrees. Rotate thigh by turning your foot to the inside and breathe in deep. Place one hand on a knee and the other on the ankle. Move the knee to your opposite shoulder using your quads and hips. Breathe out and hold for two seconds. Repeat the stretch several times.

Stretch 5 – Internal Obliques

Symmetry is a natural part of being comfortable, which is often why people need to visit chiropractors and seek massage. The internal obliques will help to achieve the balance that comes from favoring one buttock when sitting frequently as well as tilting the obliques from carrying something heavy on one side, such as a gym bag or a briefcase. An improperly aligned pelvis can lead to vital organs being aligned improperly. Kidneys can get crushed because of one side being higher than the other. As a result, stretching the obliques can provide relief to many vital organs.

To perform an oblique stretch, stand with your feet planted firmly on the ground. Breathe in deep and bend to the side as far as possible. Breathe out and stretch the opposite arm into the air. Look up at the pointed fingers for a deeper stretch. Perform the stretch several times. 

Eugene Wood, LMT
NYC-Massage.com