What is Deep Tissue Massage?

Series Summary

Deep tissue massages are reserved for more localized massage and focus on the deeper muscles of the soft tissue. A Masseuse will usually start by massaging the upper layers of a joint, muscle or muscle group and then work down to the deeper tissue. If this technique is not used, muscles may tighten to protect the area and inflammation may lead to damage of the area. Techniques often used during this type of massage include a flat elbow, opposing thumbs, the heel of the hand and the use of the forearm.

Watch this series of videos to learn more about deep tissue massage. Begin with our expert’s introduction to deep tissue massage and get tips on massaging the body from head to toe. If you are having trouble with the muscles of your face, watch our videos on expert deep tissue massage of the face. Get tips on using forearm pressure and how to use your elbow on areas such as the lower back and the spine. Watch as our expert gives an introduction to different accessories used during deep tissue massage. Also learn how to use the Illiotibial bands on the legs as well as other methods such as the forearm on the leg muscles. Learn new methods of massage as you watch these expert videos.

Video Transcript

"Hi my name is Melisa Brown and on behalf of ExpertVillage.com we would like to welcome you to deep tissue. Deep tissue is something that’s been around for just as long as Swedish, what we’re doing is we are just going into the tissue a little bit deeper. Maybe even taking things a little bit slower, painful doesn’t necessarily mean better, but a lot of people like the deeper tissue because it makes them relax a little bit faster. Deep tissue is used a lot for people like sports, involved in a lot of sports, not professional athletes all the time, but it’s definitely something that they need to undo or where the muscle tissue has just gotten a little bit too tight. There’s great ways to use this and we’re going to be using all of our different body parts other than our fingers. If we’re using our fingers than we’re going to be involving a little bit more of the body mechanics and that’s going to hurt us in the long run, but we do use our thumbs a lot. We’re going to be using our thumbs, we’re going to use corner right here, we use our elbows a lot, and we use our forearms, anything that doesn’t always entail our fingers. We’re going to be using our feet too so stand by and you’re going to see more. "