Deep Tissue Massage is one of the top services for most spas/clinics yet it really is not a type of massage. It is just applying more pressure to the tissues and/or working on the deeper layers of the muscles of the body to relieve pain and restore function. That is why you never really get the same thing when you go to various massage businesses.
Each massage business/spa will define it differently and each therapist will define it and apply deep tissue massage differently. So what is a client to do?
Communicate carefully with your massage therapist AND tell them the truth. Often with massage, touch and any type of massage, it will leave people receiving a massage in a deep inner state almost like a trance where communication becomes difficult. The therapist should be trained in how to assess and work with you on the amount of pressure to use to get the results you want. They will often ask how the pressure is and more specifically is that enough or too much pressure.
History of Deep Tissue Massage
There is no specific place in the history of massage where someone was claimed to be the first to use deep tissue massage. Manual of Treatment by Massage and Methodical Exercise By Joseph Screiber, 1887 used the word deep pressure. In 1893 – Recent developments in massage : historical, physiological, medical and surgical by Graham, Douglas, 1848-; Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, talked of deep pressure and deep manipulation. 1895 – The Practice of massage (Archive.org) By Arthur Symons Eccles mentions deep kneading. (From my other site www.massageschoolnotes.com history of deep tissue massage.)
The Birth of Deep Tissue Massage:
The phrase “deep tissue massage” as we know it today was first used by Therese Pfrimmer, a Canadian physiotherapist, in the mid-20th century. Born in 1888, Therese Pfrimmer suffered from paralysis herself, and after years of unsuccessful treatments, she took her recovery into her own hands. Drawing inspiration from ancient massage techniques, she developed her unique approach, targeting deeper layers of muscles and connective tissues to alleviate chronic pain and restore mobility.
Pfrimmer’s work gained recognition among patients and medical professionals alike, and she went on to teach her methods to others. Her teachings spread across Canada and the United States, laying the foundation for the development of modern deep tissue massage therapy.
See the complete history of Primmer Deep Muscle Massage on www.massageschoolnotes.com
Uses
Relieve Pain. Relieve Stress. Helps heal injuries and many pathologies.
