Clareesa King
Certified Massage Therapist
What is Deep Tissue massage?
Deep tissue massage is a type of therapy that focuses on realigning deeper layers of muscle. The movement for deep tissue massage is often slow, and the pressure is deep and concentrated. The massage therapist focuses on areas of tension and pain in order to reach the sub-layer of muscles and fascia (the connective tissue surrounding muscles). Deep tissue massage is often used to relieve chronic aches and pains in contracted areas such as: stiff neck, tight upper back, achy low back, tense calves, and sore shoulders.
With chronic muscle tension or injuries, myofascial adhesions (bands of painful, rigid tissue) can form in muscles, tendons, and ligaments. These adhesions can disrupt circulation and cause pain, limited movement, and inflammation.
Deep tissue massage works by physically breaking down these adhesions to relieve pain and improve range of motion.
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P.S. Deep tissue massage does not = painful experience. We will discuss pressure, pain tolerance, and deep relaxation techniques so you can get the most out of your session without pain.
Thanks!:)
Our digestive systems help us convert food to energy, and eliminate waste and toxins from the body. Stress and poor eating habits can prohibit this system from working efficiently, resulting in indigestion, bloating, and constipation. Massage can improve the functions of the digestive system and relieve these symptoms by stimulating peristalsis (the involuntary constriction and relaxation of the muscles of the intestines, creating wavelike movements that push the contents of these canals forward).
When massage therapy is applied to the abdominal area, low back, hips, side-body, and reflexology points in our feet and hands, our digestive systems can improve their functions.
A tendon is a fibrous connective tissue which attaches MUSCLE to BONE. A tendon serves to move bones and other structures.
[Just FYI - A ligament is a fibrous connective tissue which attaches BONE to BONE, and usually serves to hold structures together and keep them stable.]
Tendons are all about structural integrity. For those of you who fancy metaphors, you can picture tendons as pillars and cables holding a bridge up. If those pillars or cables fray or crumble = bad news. Tendons are like rope. They do not contract or relax like muscles. If you pull on a tendon, it gets taught and essentially compresses itself, just like pulling on a rope would.
For those of you who like "real-life" examples: Try gently pulling your pinky and hold it for about 3 weeks.....or 4 months....or 2 years.....ok, you can let go now...:) That constant tension and irritation is exactly what happens to our tendons when muscles are too tight for too long.
The more chronic tension there is on a tendon, the more prone it is to actual rip/tear injuries, and the more prone it is to Tendonosis. All of the tension pulling the tendon reduces blood flow and nutrition getting to the tendon.
Massage therapy can be very beneficial for the health of our tendons. The less circulation and nutrition a tendon gets, the weaker a tendon becomes; massage therapy helps tendons by increasing circulation and relaxing tight muscles, which takes chronic irritating tension off the tendon.
Massage therapy can help take care of your awesomely designed tendons so they can take care of you!