Deep Tissue Massage

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Is a Deep Tissue Massage What You Really Need?

What is a deep tissue massage? It is a different technique from other massages because it works on a deeper level. This technique uses deep sustained pressure to target inner layers of your connective tissues and muscles. This means that it is designed to affect multiple layers of muscles to get to the source of your pain.

Whereas a regular massage is geared toward relaxation, a deep tissue massage doesn’t just focus on relaxation. It works on getting to the root cause of your pain. 

Read on to see the benefits and if it’s really what you need.

The Ultimate Guide to Deep Tissue Massage

Start Feeling Better In As Few As 3 Visits

Overcome Your Back Pain, Neck Pain, Shoulder Pain & More.

Tell us what hurts, and we will treat your pain in the shortest time possible. Get effective treatment for your condition in less than 30 minutes so you can get back to doing what you live… pain-free.

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Get a personalized care plan so you can feel better in as few as 3 visits. We use advanced therapy techniques proven to ease pain, accelerate recovery, improve mobility and overall health.

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chiropractors, registered massage therapists are professionals and in human anatomy and biomechanics. You will get the perfect care plan to target the root of your pain so you can get back to doing what you love, everyday! 

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This appointment is your opportunity to tell us what hurts and discover whether deep tissue massage is a good fit for you! During this session, you will talk with a massage therapist on a phone call (or online) and create the right care plan specifically for your pain. There is no obligation, this session is only to find out if deep tissue massage can help you getting back to doing the things you love in life.

About PainHero

If you’re like most you don’t want to wait days or weeks to get treated for your pain. And you don’t want to have to spend your time calling nearby clinics to find the one who can see you the fastest.

That’s where PainHero comes In – Canada’s largest network of physiotherapists, chiropractors, and registered massage therapists. 

Our Platform is used by clinics where they post their open appointment times. So you can quickly compare availability and wait times for clinics near you without having to pick up the phone. Then book an appointment within seconds and even see someone that day if you want. So you can get back to doing the things you love faster.

Plus unlike other sites who let anyone on or just rely on google reviews. We hand pick clinics based on a 50-point inspection, which includes everything from checking reviews, ratings, reputation, history, complaints, satisfaction, trust, cost, and general excellence.

Why PainHero?

Improve the way your body moves so you can continue to do the things you love. PainHero is Canada’s largest network of physiotherapists, chiropractors, and registered massage therapists. Our mission is to make it easy for you to find the top clinics in your community. We handpick the top clinics using our 50 point inspection based on patient reviews, complaints, and patient outcomes. 

Whether you’re seeking pain relief or preventative care, you can expect our patient-centric approach to be new and different from any healthcare experience you’ve had before. Perhaps even life-changing.  

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The Ultimate Guide To Deep Tissue Massage

What Does A Deep Tissue Massage Do For Your Body?

There are many deep tissue massage benefits like loosening up restrictions, knots and adhesions in your muscles and fascia.

You see, when you have back pain or shoulder pain, the pain could actually be caused by a fascia restriction in a completely different area of your body because fascia connects all the muscles in your body together. So a restriction in one area of your body can affect a different area of your body. A deep tissue massage can work these restrictions out, helping to relieve the pain.

Other benefits include:

  • Reduces blood pressure and heart rate.
  • Eases inflammation caused by plantar fasciitis.
  • Relieves chronic lower back pain.
  • Ankylosing Spondylitis pain relief.
  • Helps athletes recovering from an injury or seeking pain relief. 
  • Beneficial for tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, sciatica, fibromyalgia, bursitis, and more caused by overuse of joints and muscles.
  • Can help you sleep better by increasing release of the feel good hormones like serotonin.

What’s the Difference Between a Swedish Vs Deep Tissue Massage?

These are two different types of massage. 

During a Swedish massage your whole body is worked wherase a deep tissue massage focuses on specific pain sites to affect them in a positive way.

Also, a Swedish massage does not use the same type of pressure when it comes to deep tissue. It focuses on the outer layers of the muscles whereas deep tissue focuses on the deeper layers.

Deep tissue massage focuses on chronic pain and sport and muscle related injuries. A Swedish massage mainly focuses on relieving tension in the neck and back that is caused by everyday activities like sitting in front of a computer too long.

Benefits of RMT treatments courtesy of Vitality Physiotherapy and Wellness Centre (Read the caption)

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Find out whether deep tissue massage can help you get back to doing the things you love in life. 

The 4 Types of Deep Tissue Massages

Deep strokes – this is where more pressure is placed to affect the deeper and muscles of your body.  It’s relaxing and boosts circulation to accelerate healing as well as remove waste products from your body that inhibit healing.

Rolling – this is where the therapist pulls your skin away and gently rolls the skin in a forward motion to separate skin from stuck muscles. Stuck muscles can cause pain. Rolling helps free up these restrictions, improving range of motion and reducing pain.

Cross Friction – the purpose of using this technique is to prevent adherent scars from forming. These scars can cause pain and limit mobility. This technique is applied in a longitudinal direction parallel to the vessels, which can improve local circulation. 

Picking up – your therapist will gently pull your tissues aways from the bone, squeeze, and release.  This improves blood circulation, relieving tension, and pain. It also improves the extensibility and elasticity of your tissues which helps increase your flexibility.

Massage Therapy courtesy of Delta Physiotherapy & Rehab Mississauga

What Happens When I Get a Deep Tissue Massage?

Before your massage, your therapist will ask about your pain or problems you’re experiencing. 

Then you will lie down on your back or stomach over a sheet. You can undress as much as you feel comfortable.

Your therapist will first start to warm up your muscles using a lighter touch. Then once your muscles are properly warmed up they will start working on the problem areas using deep stroking and kneading techniques with different pressures.

Benefits of Massage Therapy courtesy of Elevation Health (Read the caption)

Do Deep Tissue Massages Get Rid of Knots?

Yes, a deep tissue massage is one of the best ways to release those painful knots.

Is A Deep Tissue Massage Painful?

Usually after the first massage you may feel muscle soreness from the firm pressure for a few days after. To combat this you can use a cold pack to ease the soreness.

Deep Tissue Massage is typically a safe massage, however, it’s not for everyone. If you have any of these conditions below you should speak to your doctor before getting this type of massage.

  • Are on blood thinners
  • Have cancer
  • Have a bleeding disorder or history of blood clots.
  • You are pregnant
  • Have an open wound or any skin infection (need to wait until it’s healed)

What Should You Do After a Deep Tissue Massage?

To maximize the effects of a deep tissue massage you can do these 3 things:

Hydrate – when you get a deep tissue massage it stimulates your lymphatic system to remove toxins from your body. Water is essential to help flush out these toxins. If you don’t drink enough water after a massage, you could get a experiences symptoms like a headache. Plus your body is made up of 60% water and this type of massage releases fluids from your tissues so it’s important to rehydrate with water.

Delay workout after deep tissue massage. You see, a deep tissue massage can be very taxing on your muscles so its best to wait at least 12 hours before you workout.

Optimize the benefits – you can increase the benefits of a deep tissue massage by combining recovery modalities like infrared saunas, hot and cold tubs or compression sleeves/boots. This can help boost recovery and the effects of the massage to take your performance to another level.

How does MASSAGE help manage STRESS courtesy of We Thrive Wellness (Read the caption)

How Do I Find A Deep Tissue Massage Near Me?

Feel like a deep tissue massage could benefit you? If so, find a top licensed massage therapist near you by clicking the “find a clinic near me” button on this page. Whether you’re looking for a deep tissue massage in Calgary, Ottawa, or anywhere else, we have therapists in almost every city in Canada.

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Frequently Asked Questions

You could do it a few times a week or a few times a month. Your Therapist will recommend the correct frequency based on your condition or goal.

Wear something comfy and stretchy. Before the massage you can take off as much clothes as you feel comfortable.

Deep tissue massages can cause a little discomfort especially when working on a trouble area. It can feel like the “hurts so good feeling.”

Book Your BACK NECK SHOULDER KNEE ELBOW HIP WRIST FOOT Pain Consult

Deep Tissue Massage is one of several possible methods for relieving pain that do not rely on prescription medications and all the side effects and baggage they come with. Not to mention that most drugs can only mask pain, but rarely address root causes. Find a clinic if you are suffering from muscle tightness, soreness, or pain to improve your quality of life, today.