- Understanding Different Massage Therapies
- Understanding Pressure Levels
- What to Consider When Choosing a Massage
- Schedule a Massage
Massage therapy is a revitalizing experience. From soothing muscle pain to improving mobility, the right type of therapy can offer pain relief, stress reduction, and relaxation. The key is knowing what type of massage therapy is best for your unique situation.
Understanding Different Massage Therapies
Swedish Massage
Noted for its long strokes and kneading, a Swedish massage is one of the most commonly sought therapies. It involves the use of both medium-firm and light pressure on targeted areas to encourage the relaxation of muscles, easing tension and reducing overall inflammation. This is an excellent massage if you’re just starting out or want a relaxing experience.
Deep Tissue Massage
Deep tissue massages typically last for around 60 to 90 minutes, providing a more intense level of therapy. It shouldn’t hurt, but your therapist will aim to treat deeper layers of muscles, connective tissues, and other soft tissues. Choose this massage if you have an injury you want to remedy, soreness from a workout or activity, or tightness in specific areas. It can also be helpful for those with chronic muscle pain.
Sports Massage
A sports massage can be a full-body massage or a targeted massage focusing on the areas you’re most likely to injure in the specific sport you participate in. If you are prone to sports injuries or want to increase your flexibility and athletic performance, you might want to consider this type of massage.
Trigger Point Therapy
If you have injuries, chronic pain, or a specific health condition that typically causes muscle aches, a trigger point therapy session could be great for recovery. This type of massage reduces pain by relieving trigger points in muscles that often cause pain. For example, those who have frequent headaches may benefit from a trigger point massage that targets the neck muscles. Your therapist will choose the specific targets based on the type of pain you’re experiencing. Keep in mind that the pressure level is very deep and intense, so it might not be the best option for first-timers.
Prenatal Massage
For those who are pregnant, a prenatal massage can be both safe to have and incredibly beneficial for reducing stress, pain, and discomfort brought on by the pregnancy. This type of massage applies mild pressure to various areas of the body, often the lower back, legs, and hips, where pain tends to be most significant. Prenatal massages are generally safe, although some providers won’t offer massages during the first trimester, as this is when miscarriages are more likely to happen. Additionally, if you’re more prone to blood clots or are at a high risk of miscarriage, a massage may not be the best option. Always talk to your doctor before scheduling a prenatal massage.
Understanding Pressure Levels
There are four primary types of pressure levels: light, medium, strong, and deep.
Most massage types have varying pressure levels. Swedish massages are the lightest, so they are considered ideal for those new to massage therapy and unsure of what to expect, while trigger point therapy offers the deepest level of pressure and is better suited for those with chronic pain and severe muscle tightness or knots. Deep tissue massages provide a strong to deep pressure, which helps provide relief in the muscle tissues.
Pressure level is 100% subjective. During a massage, you may experience some discomfort, especially if you have a lot of muscle knots. The goal is to feel good pain over bad pain. Your therapist can demonstrate different pressure levels to help you understand which option is best for you. At any point during your session, you can ask your therapist to stop if you’re experiencing bad or intolerable pain.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Massage Type
- Personal Needs & Preferences: What do you want the massage to accomplish for you? This could be recovery from a sports injury or car accident, or just a light, gentle, and relaxing experience.
- Pain Severity: Are you experiencing chronic pain? How bad is it on a scale from 1 to 10? Communicate with your massage therapist about the pain you have so that they understand how much pressure is needed and which potential areas they need to provide light but firm pressure on to avoid bad pain. Generally, trigger point massages are an excellent choice for pain reduction, but they can be intense for first-timers.
- Lifestyle Conditions: If you’re new to massages, don’t underestimate the intensity they can offer. For those who live a sedentary lifestyle, meaning you don’t get a lot of exercise most days, an intense deep tissue massage may actually hurt. In contrast, a Swedish massage may not offer enough support for those with a more active lifestyle.
- Recovery Time: You may experience soreness after a massage. Recovery times for all massages are generally short, but you’ll be more sore after deep tissue and trigger point therapy, whereas Swedish massages will ease tension and reduce pain without causing any dwelling soreness.
Note that depending on your needs, your pain severity, and the overall objectives of your massage therapy, the type of massage is less important than its frequency and consistency. Booking routine treatment may help to improve your pain and stress levels far more effectively than just having a single Swedish massage.
Additionally, the success and effectiveness of any type of massage therapy is dependent on who performs it. Always seek a licensed therapist, especially if you are unsure what type of massage may best suit your needs. A licensed professional will guide you in choosing the appropriate care for you while reducing the risk of injuries.
Schedule a Massage Today
Total Health Systems offers massage therapy services, including deep tissue, sports, Swedish, and prenatal. When you schedule a consultation, one of our licensed therapists will work with you to understand your needs and objectives and provide customized plans to help treat your specific condition and symptoms. With us, pain-free living can be a reality.
Please contact us today to book a consultation at one of our six locations.
