THE PURPOSE FOR A DEEP TISSUE MASSAGE
Guest Blogger Joe Barbalaco, Director of Massage Programs
Deep Tissue Massage is a form of bodywork that aims to relieve tension in the deeper layers of tissue in the body. Deep Tissue Massage is a highly effective method for releasing chronic stress areas due to misalignment, repetitive motions, and past lingering injuries.
When there is muscle and joint overuse, these situations can occur:
· nerve entrapments ( nerves being pinched)
· muscle adhesions ( Gluing/ muscle groups and joint structures bind up)
· inflammation and scar tissue (occurs from muscle strains/pulls)
These bodily injuries change the tissue in three undesirable ways.
1. The tissue itself does not get enough oxygen, a condition also called “hypoxia.”
2. There can be an accumulation of small tears, also called a micro-trauma.
3. Acute conditions occur such as pulls and tears.
· These three types of changes cause the body to heal by producing tough, dense scar tissue in the area that has been injured, which replaces the healthy tissue.
· The scar tissue itself then binds up the surrounding tissues, so that they can no longer move freely.
· As more scar tissue builds up, muscles themselves can become shorter and weaker.
· Scar tissue in not as strong and stable as healthy tissue
A massage therapist is needed to help break down muscle adhesions and scar tissue. Without treatment the condition will only progress as time goes on.
Scar Tissue Removal:
There are different methods of use to help get rid of unwanted scar tissue. One of those ways would be deep tissue massage. Massaging with deep cross fiber friction will help to remove internal scar.
It can relieve such “overuse” problems as carpal syndrome, shoulder pain, shin splints, sciatica, plantar fascilitis, knee problems, tennis elbow and other conditions that hinder a person quality of life. These problems all occur because of overuse, and can be cured with specific trained massage therapy techniques.
In our next BLOG September 23, we will continue this topic about scar tissue and inflammation. We will discuss its effects it has on athletes and the everyday person.