Pulled, strained and torn muscles are fairly common, but they can still be very painful. These muscular problems are often caused by overuse or improper use of your muscles and they can affect any part of the body.
It’s important to make sure you’re correctly treating any muscle strains to prevent them from getting worse and more painful, and it’s beneficial to book an appointment with a massage therapist. Massage therapists use a range of techniques to help alleviate pain and depending on your muscular injury, some types of deep tissue will be more suitable than others.
When you visit our massage therapist at ChiroCulture, during your first appointment you will receive a consultation to help determine which technique, or combination of techniques, is best to use to help you achieve your goals. If you don’t know much about massage therapy and you’re wondering which techniques our massage therapist uses, below we have looked into them in more detail.
Swedish massage
This is one of the most common types of massage and sometimes, Swedish deep tissue massage will be referred to as a ‘classic’ massage. This technique uses long strokes and light pressure to loosen up tight muscles, ease movement and increase flexibility. Swedish massage targets the top layer of the muscle and it can be really useful if you’re experiencing muscle tension.
Deep tissue massage
On the contrary, deep tissue massage targets the inner layers of the muscle and this technique uses a lot more pressure. During a deep tissue massage, a deep tissue massage therapist will focus on the painful muscles and surrounding tissues. The deep tissue massage therapist will apply pressure whilst using slow strokes to break down painful knots in the muscles or scar tissue from old injuries.
Myofascial release
This massage technique focuses on the tissues connecting and supporting the muscles which are called the myofascial tissues. Myofascial release involves locating myofascial areas that are stiff or tight, and gently massaging them to loosen them up and improve mobility. Often, during myofascial release, massage therapists will work on a broader section of the muscular system, rather than just the area where the chronic back pain originates.
Trigger point therapy
Sometimes, pain is caused by trigger points throughout the body. Simply put, trigger points are specific areas in a muscular system that can cause referred chronic back pain. Trigger point therapy is designed to target trigger points through isolated pressure and it can alleviate tension and relieve muscle tightness. By applying direct pressure to trigger points, this technique can increase blood circulation to the painful area too, decreasing pain.
Soft tissue release
If you’re experiencing pain after an injury, soft tissue release may be used to help treat the affected tissue. This hands-on technique is used on various soft tissues in the body, including; muscles, tendons and ligaments. During soft tissue release, a massage therapist will stretch small areas of soft tissue to loosen it and increase the range of motion and muscular balance.
Cross friction massage
Also known as deep friction massage, cross friction massage is used to break down scar tissue and prevent it from limiting movement. This massage technique can help to improve the flexibility of scar tissue and promote proper healing. Cross friction massage uses moderate pressure and some stretches may be done to elongate the scar tissue as well.
Book an appointment with a massage therapist in Chertsey
There really are lots of useful deep tissue massage techniques that can help to relieve pain and support the recovery of muscular problems caused by improper use or overuse. If you would like to find out more about massage therapy and the benefits of visiting a deep tissue massage therapist, don’t hesitate to contact us at ChiroCulture. We offer deep tissue therapy at our Chertsey clinic and we can answer any questions you may have.
In addition to offering deep tissue massage therapy as a stand-alone therapy, we can also combine it with chiropractic treatment if required. Our specialist team will design a bespoke treatment plan for you to speed up recovery time and help you meet your health and fitness goals. It’s always our aim to alleviate pain as quickly as possible and restore optimal function, helping you to enjoy life again. Your health is the best investment you can make and we can assure you that you will be in excellent hands when you book an appointment with our massage therapist in Chertsey.
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