There is an influx on the different kinds of massages available in the market right now. However, these can all be categorized into three groups, the Acupressure, Swedish massage and the deep tissue massage. The Acupressure, which most commonly attributed to Asia focuses on the pressure points and the movements of energy in the body. Swedish on the other hand improves the blood circulation and relaxes our muscles. Lastly, the deep tissue massage focuses on the connective tissues and focuses on the changes in ease of movement and posture.
Swedish Massage
Swedish is the most common and best-known type of massage in the West. It’s the foundation for other types of Western massage and is based on the Western concepts of anatomy and physiology, as opposed to energy work on “meridians” or sen lines in Asian massage systems. A Swedish massage can be slow and gentle, or vigorous and bracing, depending on the therapist’s personal style and what he or she is trying to achieve.
Deep Tissue Massage
Deep tissue massage therapy is similar to Swedish massage, but the deeper pressure is beneficial in releasing chronic muscle tension. The focus is on the deepest layers of muscle tissue, tendons, and fascia (the protective layer surrounding muscles, bones and joints).
A study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that people’s blood pressure fell after a single 45 to 60-minute deep tissue massage. Additionally, a 2010 meta-analysis in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that massage modalities like deep tissue reduce stress hormone levels and heart rate while boosting mood and relaxation by triggering the release of oxytocin and serotonin.
Weighing the Benefits
Choose Swedish massage for relaxation to increase circulation of blood and lymph, for a relief of pain, improved mood, improved sleep and sharper thinking. Choose deep tissue massage for chronic pain that is muscular in origin, to improve posture and range of motion. To improve athletic performance, use deep tissue massage off-season as it produces changes in movement to which you need to become accustomed before competing.
Misconceptions and Considerations
Swedish massage is sometimes considered to be more soothing than therapeutic, but research by the Touch Therapy Institute in Florida shows that Swedish or classic massage has many therapeutic benefits. Deep tissue massage shouldn’t be painful; well-trained deep tissue massage therapists work very slowly, within the client’s tolerance, to stretch muscle layers without causing pain or damage. It often results in a little soreness afterward, but you should feel better, not worse, after your massage.
Try your first in Denver Deep Tissue Massage
Denver deep tissue massage is an effective treatment for a number of muscular issues; it is also a very helpful treatment for stress and pain management. They have trained personnel that would communicate well, they would ask you during the massage to make sure that the treatment is going well, so don’t be shy to ask questions. They would love to hear your thoughts during the session, so we could improve our Denver Deep Tissue Massage Treatment
