Swedish v. Deep Tissue Massage
- By Dorothy Andreas
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- 07 Oct, 2019
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New to massage? Just never quite understood the different treatments? You undoubtedly want to enjoy a day of pampering as much as possible, because busy schedules being what they are, these opportunities don’t come around every day. That’s why it’s so important to find the best service for you. To help in your quest, let’s compare two of the most popular treatments: Swedish v. deep tissue massage.
Swedish Massage Techniques
- Effleurage -
A major component of Swedish massage, effleurage encompasses long, gentle strokes to distribute massage oils which make your skin easier to work with. Here, the therapist also begins to feel for the condition of your muscles and identify tight spots.
- Petrissage -
A more common technique, your therapist will incorporate kneading strokes, or petrassage. These strokes manipulate the tissues of your body to promote relaxation and flush metabolic waste
- Friction -
Improving blood flow is a key goal during Swedish massage treatments, and friction strokes are essential. The friction of these short, quick strokes creates heat, promoting blood flow and soothing muscles.
- Vibration -
Some therapists may incorporate vibrating strokes. Rather than stimulating a particular region, vibration strokes are used all over to create an overall sense of calm and relaxation.
- Tapotement -
Who knew that a karate chop felt so good? These mild blows to areas like your back are effective in promoting muscle relaxation.
Swedish Massage Benefits
The gentler and more common massage technique (so much so that some call it “classic massage”), Swedish massage is highly beneficial. Aside from feeling absolutely amazing, these treatments do your mind and body a world of good.
Get Your Relaxation On
A major hallmark of the Swedish methodology is that the treatment is a good way to achieve relaxation. This is because the variety of strokes combine to relieve physical and mental tension, helping stress to dissipate.
Wake Up Those Nerves
Our bodies are made up of a seemingly limitless supply of nerve endings, allowing us to feel positive and painful sensations. Swedish is a common choice for mild muscle tension and flexibility issues. When you begin a treatment, tell your therapist about any trigger points that might need extra attention, such as tight shoulders.
Deep Tissue Massage Techniques
Think of deep tissue massage as a graduation from the moderate approaches of Swedish massage. The treatment utilizes the same strokes of Swedish massage, but pulls in additional strategies to achieve deeper muscle and tissue penetration.
Your therapist will put more of their own body into a deep tissue treatment, using pressure from their fingers, fists, elbows and forearms. Sound aggressive? Deep tissue massage is a common pain management treatment, so it focuses heavily on stretching and soothing the fascia, or deeper layers of connective tissue within your body. Incorporating a series of slow and deliberate strokes, deep tissue treatments are effective for issues with posture and chronic pain.
Deep Tissue Massage Benefits
The average person probably doesn’t need deep tissue therapy. Because of the intensity of the treatment, it is by nature geared toward certain individuals, like athletes, individuals suffering from fibromyalgia or those with chronic pain due to injury.
All the Way Down to the Core
Using highly deliberate strokes, your therapist aims to relieve chronic muscle tension and adhesions. Penetrating so deeply, the treatment has the benefit of being able to affect your body all the way down to the tendons and tissue.
A Little Bit of Pushback
What’s interesting is that the technique takes it queue from individual muscles. Your therapist will “hook in,” slowly stroking individual muscles as they allow, while avoiding excessive force by feeling when each muscle pushes back in resistance. With proper pressure (avoiding creating pain), these muscles will naturally relax and release, allowing your therapist to move along them and provide a sense of soothing.
Unwind with a Massage from Sewickley Spa
That spa day is so close you can touch it. Which service wins out for you in comparing Swedish v. deep tissue massage? Whether you’re in need of the calming strokes of the Swedish technique, or have a lingering issue to address with deep tissue therapy, we’ll customize a massage experience that will put you in a state of complete bliss.
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