The deep tissue massage involves manipulating the deeper layers of muscle and fascia.

Your body is a miracle machine. It’s made up of billions of cells, miles of nerves and blood vessels, dozens of organs, over 200 bones, and more than 600 muscles. The muscles themselves are made up of bundles of fibers wrapped together by a connective tissue called fascia – imagine a handful of drinking straws wrapped in clingfilm. Take a few of these bundles and you have the basic structure of muscle tissue.

Injury, inactivity, or stress can cause the tissue fibers and fascia to become scarred and “gummed up.” This may lead to pain and stiffness, and in more serious cases muscle weakness. Deep tissue massage is the manual manipulation of the deep layers of muscle and fascia. It helps free up fascia and encourages the repair and regrowth of scar tissue, restoring normal muscle function in the process.

Massage therapists use firm pressure on their fingers, thumbs, and palms to reach deep muscle tissue. They’ll also use their forearms, elbows, and even knees depending on the area they’re treating. Some therapists make use of specialist tools to concentrate the pressure into smaller, focused areas, but also to relieve their hands.

Deep tissue massage can be a stand-alone treatment or used in conjunction with other types of massage therapies. It can be used locally to treat a specific problem, such as a stiff neck or tight shoulders, or applied more generally to the whole body.