Advice

What’s the difference between Swedish and Deep Tissue Massage?

When clients visit they ask about the different types of massage and what they do? So here I am to answer this question about two of the most popular types of massage.

Swedish

This is the type most people would associate as being your typical spa massage. It is primarily designed to stimulate relaxation and help relieve tension. This is done by using various techniques, including effleurage, petrissage and tapotement, to move the skin and muscles thus releasing the tension you have. The therapist will more than likely only use their hands in applying pressure to your body throughout this type of treatment.

Deep Tissue

This type of massage is designed to breakdown any adhesions or knots you have in your muscles and tissues. This is done by using a deeper pressure with some of the same techniques as used in Swedish but also including stripping and frictioning. Its aim is to release new areas of aching or stiffness and the therapist may use more than just their hands including knuckles and elbows. All of this will be done whilst checking you’re not in pain. With a deep tissue massage you may feel some tightness after, but this will pass within the next 24-48 hours.

Which do I choose?

Swedish is aimed at those that are stressed or achy from a long work out or day at work. For deep tissue it’s for those with a specific injury or area of tightness for example migraines or workout tightness/ injury.

I hope this helps with your decision.

Deep Tissue vs Sports Massage

I get asked this question all the time. What’s the difference between the two?

They are in fact very similar as they use similar techniques and have the same end goals, but there are important differences so read on to see what they are so you can make an informed choice when you’re ready to book.

Deep Tissue

So as it says a deep tissue massage is just that. The therapist uses a firm pressure to manipulate the muscles and deeper tissues in the body. The main focus is the reduction of new areas of tension across the entire body rather than dealing with any old injuries or lager knots you may have.

This manipulation will move and stretch muscles and tissues, leading to increased blood flow and breaking down of the knots. It will sometimes feel like a good workout, so may leave you feeling a bit sore or achy. This will pass within the next 48-72 hours.

Sports Massage

Sports massage is designed to help deal with the larger and older knots, and also help in the recovery from injury. The therapist will not only use massage techniques but also active and passive stretching techniques that will improve range of movement and flexibility to help prevent future injury.

Your Sports massage therapist will have a deeper understanding of the anatomy than a deep tissue massage therapist. A postural assessment will be required to get to the root cause of the issue you want looking at as well as a more detailed consultation. There will be more movement from you, the client, so your therapist can mobilise the joint. Your therapist may use a number of techniques from Neuro muscular and muscle energy to soft tissue release and trigger point therapy.

All of this may have some discomfort but should not be painful, and your therapist will check to make sure of this. The “No Pain No Gain” theory no longer applies.

In conclusion then Deep Tissue is used for new areas of tension and aches, whilst Sports is aimed at the knots and injuries that have been there for a while.

I hope this has helped.