Whether you're a daily heavy-duty pro or someone undergoing physical therapy, deep-tissue massage can provide many benefits to your body. The main purpose of deep tissue massage is to reduce muscle soreness and discomfort while improving the body's ability to heal itself. So what exactly is deep tissue massage? What benefits can it bring to our body?
What is Deep Tissue Massage?
Deep tissue massage (DTM for short) mainly involves related tissues in the body including fascia, muscles and joints. Compared with other more common massages, such as Swedish massage or Shiatsu massage, deep tissue massage Usually slower and deeper into the inner layers of the body. So massage therapists apply deep pressure to targeted areas of the body, plus most deep tissue massages usually focus on major muscle groups, such as the neck or lower back; and parts of the joints and tendons that are prone to injury, so, deep tissue massage Also known as "sports massage". The automatic massage gun that is often seen recently is a tool for deep massage.
Benefits of Deep Tissue Massage for the Body
1 Treating Chronic Back Pain
According to a specific study published in Health Technology and Informatics Research in 2012 comparing two studies of different massages for chronic back pain, specifically in 26 chronic back pain patients between the ages of 60-75, the They are divided into two groups. The first group used therapeutic massage and the second group used deep tissue massage. They were given 30-minute massages for 10 days, and their treatment was discontinued during the study. In the end, it was found that the deep tissue massage group achieved more improvement in pain than the therapeutic massage.
In addition, a 2014 study published in Science World also found that DTM alone had a similar effect on reducing chronic back pain in patients, even compared to massage and NSAID pain relievers.
2 Helps reduce high blood pressure
A study published in the Medical Journal found that deep tissue massage had a positive effect on systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure readings in adults with pain and symptoms of hypertension. The study recruited 263 volunteers, with an average age of 48.5 years, each with moderate or severe overall muscle spasm/muscle strain prior to treatment, followed by massage lasting 45-60 minutes while playing 21 kinds of music that can help soothe, the data was analyzed by Scheffe's F test machine afterwards, and the results showed that the average systolic blood pressure decreased by 10.4 mm/Hg, the diastolic blood pressure decreased by 5.3 mm/Hg, and the average arterial blood pressure decreased by 7.0 mm/Hg after the massage treatment. , the average heart rate decreased by 10.8 beats/min.
3 Reduce stress and muscle tension
Inflammation from chronic stress and muscle tension can lead to worsening overall health, longer recovery times, lower immune function and cardiovascular problems such as high blood pressure. After a flurry of studies, massage therapy has been found to help lower cortisol levels and even boost oxytocin production. After years of research on the importance of oxytocin in controlling various behavioral and emotional responses in humans, scientists have now discovered that it is likely that all biochemical mechanisms in the brain involved in psychological, sensory, and emotional functions are inseparable from oxytocin. Relationship.
Several mechanisms by which deep massage naturally relieves stress include its ability to dilate blood vessels and the activity of the lower limbic system (including the hypothalamus), which is responsible for autonomic nervous system regulation and cortisol secretion, as measured by heart rate, blood pressure, and heart rate variability, Massage has been shown to improve relaxation by enhancing the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system.
4 Improves exercise recovery and performance
Research published in the Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness found that deep tissue massage showed positive trends in improving exercise recovery and performance. The most beneficial deep tissue massage for athletes is considered sports massage, which is usually done before exercise to help warm the body and prevent injury or improve recovery immediately.
The report shows that the science of sports massage has become a subject of increasing interest to athletes, athletic trainers, coaches and exercise physiologists. This research also shows that deep tissue massage can help improve lactate clearance, delay muscle soreness, muscle fatigue, injury prevention and injury treatment. In addition, the researchers noted that athletes who received massage had psychological benefits, which, along with other studies, improved focus and confidence, although this study still needs more research data analysis and support in the long run, but the organization Healing and the psychological effects of massage can be helpful for professional and amateur athletes alike.
5 Reduce Arthritis Symptoms
According to the Arthritis Foundation, massage can often be used to relieve common symptoms of many types of arthritis, including chronic joint pain, stiffness, anxiety, limited joint range of motion, and difficulty sleeping. Whether performed by a professional or by the patient themselves, massage can be used daily for natural relief.
Studies have shown that a more stressful, healthier massage can significantly reduce arthritis pain compared to a lighter massage. Lighter massages tend to cause (not relax) because the heart rate tends to rise. However, under moderate stress, heart rate usually drops, which stimulates relaxation and reduces tension.
6 Helping Pregnant Women Relieve Labor Pain
Many pregnant women are now turning to complementary medicines to help manage labor pain and support natural labor processes such as the Bradley Method. In fact, the survey showed that the most common alternative treatments recommended during pregnancy were massage therapy (61%), acupuncture (45%), relaxation (43%), yoga (41%) and chiropractic (37%).
Some research suggests that massage therapy can be effective in reducing anxiety during pregnancy, and women who receive massage before and during labor experience fewer symptoms of depression, anxiety, and leg and back pain. In addition, a study found that women who received massage before and during labor had significantly less pain, and they had an average of 3 hours less labor and less medication needs, plus lower cortisol levels due to massage. , blood flow is improved, and pregnant women are also better protected against fetal hypermobility and risk of preterm birth
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