DEEP TISSUE ISSUE!

[Queen of the Nerds]

HI !!! I AM NEW TO THIS WEB SITE, AND THERE VERY WELL MAY BE A TOPIC OF THIS SORT ALREADY STARTED....BUT HERE IT GOES...I WORK IN A SPA AND ALSO TAKE APPOINTMENTS ON THE SIDE...WITH MY SWEDISH, HOT-STONE AND PRENATAL...I GET PRETTY GOOD FEEDBACK...BUT MY DEEP TISSUE ...I AND SOME OF THE OTHER THERAPIST HAVE THE SAME ISSUE OF "NOT ENOUGH PRESSURE" MY THOUGHTS ARE EITHER THESE PEOPLE WHO REQUEST DEEP TISSUE HAVE DIFFERENT PAIN TOLERANCES THAN NORMAL PEOPLE....OR WE ARE ALL TERRIBLE DEEP TISSUE THERAPISTS....HONESTLY, OTHER THAN SETTING MY TABLE LOW AND GIVING IT ALL I HAVE, WITH ELBOWS NUCKLES AND FISTS...I DONT KNOW HOW TO GIVE ANY MORE PRESSURE THAN I DO...ANY IDEAS...?

 

[mother_amethyst]

Deep tissue is not about more pressure, but about working on specific muscles and muscle fibers, knowing how to get in to the specifics and then knowing how to work with them.

The best way to learn is to take some classes where there will be lots of hands on trades with classmates.

 

[devan_dev1]

ok thanks i will look into that

 

[Binst is happy]

Your best bet, as Sharon said, is to take some in person deep tissue, or structural-type bodywork classes.

For now you can try

1. Use very little lubricant, and preferably something absorbant like lotion so you get plenty of grip and friction
2. Move slower, like REALLY SLOW with your strokes

You don't actually need to give more pressure, but you need to create more heat and friction within the tissue which will help to release the fascia, which is usually the type of release these people are looking for.

3. Listen with your fingers and stop and linger on spots that are more dense, tough, adhered, or congested.

If you press on the right places, it almost won't matter how much pressure you give. If you are pressing on places that aren't relevant to their discomfort, you can press as hard as you want and they'll never feel relief. If you can "listen" with your fingers and find their hot spots, then you can slap your elbow on there, give some moderate pressure and lots of slow drag and friction, and that should improve your results.

Practice on each other!

 

[Curious gurl]

Deep tissue is not about more pressure, but about working on specific muscles and muscle fibers, knowing how to get in to the specifics and then knowing how to work with them.

+1.... as a matter of fact trying to press harder with swedish will hurt you fast. You need specific body and hand mechanics to learn along with deep tissue. They kinda go hand in hand....heh.....no pun intended. 8)

 

[tommy the toucher]

DEEP TISSUE ISSUE!

HI !!! I AM NEW TO THIS WEB SITE, AND THERE VERY WELL MAY BE A TOPIC OF THIS SORT ALREADY STARTED....BUT HERE IT GOES...I WORK IN A SPA AND ALSO TAKE APPOINTMENTS ON THE SIDE...WITH MY SWEDISH, HOT-STONE AND PRENATAL...I GET PRETTY GOOD FEEDBACK...BUT MY DEEP TISSUE ...I AND SOME OF THE OTHER THERAPIST HAVE THE SAME ISSUE OF "NOT ENOUGH PRESSURE" MY THOUGHTS ARE EITHER THESE PEOPLE WHO REQUEST DEEP TISSUE HAVE DIFFERENT PAIN TOLERANCES THAN NORMAL PEOPLE....OR WE ARE ALL TERRIBLE DEEP TISSUE THERAPISTS....HONESTLY, OTHER THAN SETTING MY TABLE LOW AND GIVING IT ALL I HAVE, WITH ELBOWS NUCKLES AND FISTS...I DONT KNOW HOW TO GIVE ANY MORE PRESSURE THAN I DO...ANY IDEAS...?

Where did you receive your professional training to become a massage therapist?

 

[ms.prissy]

its called branford hall career institute....in ct....its a technical school that caters to professions like medical assistants and computer technicians...when they added massage therapy i joined....i was in the first night class they offered...unfortunately they had a half ass curriculum....they went over deep tissue but just ike a quick demo....i did alot of studying on my own...i never wanted to attempt deep tissue because i dont really think i know what i am doing...but every now and then i need to do one at the spa..but i have been winging it...like doing a deeper pressure massage and stopping at point that i think are tight or uneven...and working on that...a deep tissue for a spa atmosphere i think is a different for a private practice...no?

 

[SUPAMAn]

Have you considered a little market research? How about going out to a spa or two in your area and getting a couple deep tissue massages.
After all, we need bodywork too!

You may learn a few new techniques or tips, not to mention finding out about upcoming CE opportunities which may further increase your knowledge!

 

[nplogd00114]

i have considered it but my body is very sensitive to anything but light touch...i know i really need some work done...

 

[Scarlet]

It sounds as if you just didn't get adequate training in deep tissue work. Don't beat yourself up about it. You can't be good at something you haven't been trained properly in. I would definitely recommend taking some additional training in it. You will save your body for one thing and more importantly, you will feel confident that you are giving your clients what they need. More pressure does not equal deep tissue massage. It is about working slowly and specifically.

Good luck!

 

[PUNTER]

Deep Tirrue

Doing Deep Tissue is all in how you use your body. I find I use a lot of my martial arts training that I had years ago to get what I need pressure-wise. The first thing is to keep your arms in front of you, in your center. This is where you are strong. The other is to get your body over the person and use yo0ur body weight instead of your arm strength. Having taken Hawaiian Lomi Lomi, I tend to use my forearms for deep work more than hands, fists, or elbows. It gets in deep without the sharp points that an elbow can do.

Something I would suggest looking into is Aunty Margaret's Lomi. This is compressions with the forearm. I use a lot of these for Deep Tissue work. The class taught me a lot about using my body mechanics so it takes less out of me. I can work deeply on someone without a lot of effort.

 

[The Accomplice]

Another great resource for deep tissue massage is Art Riggs' DVD and textbook set. The DVD's are expensive but I watched them before buying them by requesting them from the library.

THey had to bring them in through InterLibrary Loan programs but it was still free. That's a great way to preview some of the videos and other suggestions you're getting before purchasing the ones that will suite you best.

Angela

 

[kaye r]

Be more specific, know your anatomy.
Take your time as a new therapist, to sharpen your tools and fill your toolbox.
Your hands will grow stronger and your touch more sensitive.


"Nothing is as gentle as pure strength,
Nothing is as strong as pure gentleness."

 

[coconut]

You mentioned that this is an issue brought up by many of your co-workers.
It's possible that all of you need more training in deep tissue work, we all could use more training as massage is a never ending learning curve. But it's also likely that you have run into the perceneforum.xxxe of clients that have the "no pain, no gain" mentality. I ran into this a lot when I worked at a fancy resort spa. The customers were often people who were receiving their massage as a freebie from their company while on business conference. They are corporate overachievers who seldom get massage (only when it's complimentary) and really have no clue.
I say, continuing education is a great way to go, but don't discount the ignorance of clients either

 

[?Ms.LaLa?]

"Deep Tissue" is such a general term for so many different methods of addressing musculature in a more specific way than Swedish.

Deep Tissue does not just mean deeper pressure, it really refers to addressing with specificity, issues, whether they be adhesions between the septums of muscles, trigger points, tendon/ligament issues, release of fascial restriction, etc....It does not just translate to give more pressure as the original poster realizes and the reason she is posting.

Definitely all the suggestions of those posters before me would help.

In a nutshell, the way I see it is what all deeper tissue modalities share is usually more pressure than Swedish; but more importantly more specificity in regards to treatment of the muscles, tendons, and ligaments, and with a conscious intent in regards to how you work with the grain of all of the above.

 

[Hoot]

I must be old school because to me deep tissue does mean applying deeper pressure but it is done without using your strength.

Keep your table low, bend your knees. Take a deep breath and let your body weight sink into your client. Push with your feet/legs -not your arms,hands or shoulders. You should be able to wriggle your fingers keeping them loose.

Yes it is about also working on the deeper layers of muscle but you usually need more pressure to access them on most people as they are tight!

It does help to take a class and learn how to work on the deeper muscles like the piriformis, mulitfidi, iliopsoas and the muscles between the ribs (I am having a senior moment - what are those called?)

Julie

(hit the big 50 this past year!)

 

[Nirvana Boy]

the muscles between the ribs (I am having a senior moment - what are those called?)

Julie

Intercostals - and you'd better not be having a senior moment because you are barely older than I am! (I think . . . : )

 

[musicseawater]

Hi MassageGeek,

I don't know if you were posting in response to my last post or others before me...yes, I do agree that deep tissue equates to deep pressure, but not JUST deep pressure.

I think clients and therapists are so focused on the pressure and some miss the boat completely in regards to the fact it is not just a "deep" swedish massage.

I was trained in the myofasical release tradition. While there are times that I apply mucher greater pressure it is the technique that really changes to deliver it....it is so much slooowwweerrr...I may do a warm up without lubricant where I very slowly (it may take more than a minute for one stroke down the back) warm up the tissue with extremely deep intent and pressure....but the pressure comes more from slowing way down than necessarily mashing on muscle.

As well, in regards to working on ligaments and tendon, where I am now learning a lot of times is more the source of the pain than the muscle itself, I will use more pressure but because it is more specific work I think the pressure I am using in relationship to the intesity the client is feeling is not necessarily in direct relationship. What the client is feeling is actually more intense than the intensity of the pressure I am using.

It is probably all the same but I hope at some point in time that 'deep tissue' will be regarded with more dimension than just it is more pressure. It is much more multi-dimensional in my experience...

 

[Kernow Lady]

Part of the issue is that people are so tight that they often don't feel any pain and they want to feel something. I think it is good to give them what they want. Most usually will begin to feel things after getting really deep pressure deep tissue. It is like it begins to wake up their bodies.

So it also has to do with a person's awareness.

Julie

 

[curiouswoman]

When it comes to deep tissue work, I was taught that if you warm the tissues well, you'll be able to get deeper without loads of pressure. If the tissues aren't warming, then try another technique to get them to give before trying to get deeper. If you just try blasting your way through with loads of pressure, you'll just risk injuring yourself and triggering pain responses and guarding on behalf of the client.