What Is The Difference Between Sports Massage And Deep Tissue Massage?

Dozens of different massage therapy techniques are available, but two basic types are rehabilitative massage and massage relaxation. The two techniques most people have heard of in terms of recovery are deep tissue massage and sports massage. But how do these two forms of treatment differ? And what’s the best for you?

Sports Massage vs Deep Tissue Massage

• Sports Massage – The purpose of this procedure is to treat minor and permanent injuries. Practitioners can also focus their attention on enhancing their posture. Sports massage therapists (also known as soft tissue therapists) typically use a broader variety of technical treatments to help adapt and loosen the muscular fibers including active and passive extension. A main goal is to relieve muscle tension – as the muscles around the joints are relaxed, the joint mobility is increased. Sportive massage therapists may usually have a more thorough grasp of human anatomy. It should be remembered that while a sports massage is never supposed to be painful, it can often be very unpleasant when practitioners are in trouble areas. At the later part of a sports massage, you should anticipate a general review of your posture-practitioners will use the time to measure changes in your sport repertoire too. Some sports massage techniques require wax or oil, but they are not always necessary.

• Deep Tissue Massage – Deep tissue massage means using strong pressure to reach the deeper tissues of the body’s muscles. Pressure starts soft, then ramps up during the treatment – sometimes it can be unpleasant, but your doctor can tell you if the massage is ever painful. Deep tissue therapies focus on stress reduction and rigidity – the procedure allows blood flow to muscles more effectively to oxygenate them and to speed up recovery. Therapists focus on removing knots and can operate in a particular region in order to loosen tight muscular muscles and improve circulation. Tough knots are typically in the upper back – especially around your shoulder blades. Given the pressure, after a deep tissue massage it is not rare to be a little sore, but over a 72 hour span this should be easier.

Even if two therapeutic methods are different the strokes and techniques used in a profound fabric and a sport massage have the same effect, with a consistent application of circular motion, kneading, tapping and vibrations. Where they vary, passive relaxation along with sports massage therapy is more commonly combined. 

A degree of pressure is often required for a sport or deep tissue massage in order to obtain the desired result. As a result, a certain degree of discomfort during therapy is not unusual-particularly in the face of high stress levels in a certain environment. However, this is where our therapists’ expertise and excellent communication come to the fore, allowing you to obtain results without too much pain.

Massage can be a way for the body , mind, and emotions to change. To find the style and the provider that is best for you, experiment with various styles of massages and massage therapists. Tell your massage therapist always about your hopes and goals and chat about something you aren’t happy with. Talk to your doctor about health issues and conditions before getting some form of massage.