Teaching Deep Tissue

[Wire & String]

I am teaching a deep tissue massage course. I have some wonderful resources that the school gave me, but I'm looking for input regarding how all of you do your deep tissue massages.

When I was in school, I was taught that a deep tissue massage is the same as Swedish, only deeper. That's all fine and great for those just looking for a deep pressure massage, but otherwise I wouldn't really consider that a "deep tissue" massage. In my own practice, I differentiate between a deep pressure and deep tissue massage, and if a client wants a 1-hour deep tissue massage I have them pick their top 2 (or so) trouble areas and that's what I work on in addition to adjoining muscles. I don't feel I have the time to slowly get into the deeper tissues while doing a full body 1-hour massage.

My class consists of me reviewing muscles, showing the students how to do deep, specific work on those muscles and then giving them feedback as they work on each other. The school has clinicals which the students will begin in April, but they are only given 1-hour for a full body deep tissue massage.

I will be briefly teaching them "adjuncts" like using moist heat or hot stones to help loosen muscles.

So my question is this: how do YOU do your deep tissue massages and do you have any suggestions regarding important things I shouldn't forget to teach them?

 

[Ambi]

Teaching Deep Tissue

When talking to a client, I also try to find out what they're really looking for - a lot of pressure, or deep specific work.

I explain to them that the difference is that I can use more pressure and do a full body massage in an hour, but if they want a deep tissue massage (clarifying that deep is referring to the layers of tissue - not the actual pressure) that if they want me to do a GOOD job at it, there's no way to do a full body in an hour. Also, I point out that the deeper layers of tissue can be worked without discomfort or pain if the area is adequately prepared... which again, can take time.

As for "important things I shouldn't forget to teach them" - if you're trying to get deep and the tissue isn't giving, DON'T HURT YOURSELF! If your fingers or hands start to hurt, STOP because something is wrong. Either the tissue needs to be warmed better, they're overusing their tools, or they need to sloooooow down. Changing tools to something more sturdy (like an elbow or forearm) and just sinking into the tissue and waiting for the give can make a world of difference.

 

[alllllly]

Teaching Deep Tissue

What I'm wondering is what other classes your students have, possibly later in their program? The way I learned (and the way the classes go in the school I work for) is what you said: a deep tissue is a Swedish with deeper pressure. The reason is because later on, I took Structural Integration and Trigger Point Therapy (my students take "Massage 3" which is a composite of MFR, trigger point, and rehabilitative techniques) all of which taught us how to incorporate those into any regular session to make an actual deep tissue massage. Another reason is because a basic "deep tissue" class gives students the basic knowledge of body mechanics and tools necessary to use deeper pressure, which they need to learn and practice BEFORE they take more in-depth classes.

Another question I have is how long your class is. You might need to consider whether you have the time to teach them the basics THEN go more in-depth without having to skip over anything or leaving your students confused. As for how I do my deeper sessions, I also ask clients if they just want a deeper full body massage or if they want specific work on just a few areas.


1/12/11: edited for clarification

 

[TheMadProfessor]

Teaching Deep Tissue

It is important that students know that deep tissue does not mean deep pressure. For DT it is important to know the lay of the land and how to get under the top layers and in some cases bone deep. You need to know what angle to go into the muscle so that the body will allow you in

 

[unnga]

Teaching Deep Tissue

I only have a few minutes to respond and am not sure when I'll get back to add more, but wanted to add in a few thoughts:

If this is a class (weeks/semester), I would highly suggest teaching a deep swedish and a deep tissue massage in the class. Go through a demo for each and why you would do one or the other. Come up with client scenarios and how a client would ask for either, or how you would determine which one the therapist would provide. I would also go through an intake prior to each "teaching" of massage work and possibly break down the class into segments. Such as:

• Difference between Deep Swedish and DTM
• How to Establish When a Client is Asking for Deep Swedish Instead of DTM (and vice versa)
• How to Formulate a DTM Strategy for a Particular Problem

I would also consider breaking up the DTM Strategies into:

• Full Body Massage with DTM Focus
• Upper Body Massage with DTM Focus
• Lower Body Massage with DTM Focus
• Upper Extremity Massage with DTM Focus
• Lower Extremity Massage with DTM Focus
• Mixed Parts with DTM Focus

I think all of these would be very useful to a new therapist.

 

[txluciouslips]

Teaching Deep Tissue

In the school I attended, we had absolutely no classes on "Deep Tissue" massage. Instead, we learned Swedish massage and how to apply it at various pressure levels, from very light to maximal. Then we learned some basic fascial work and had extremely thorough training in trigger point therapy and cross fiber friction. By the time I graduated, I could work the psoas, the longus colli, the quadratus femoris, etc. without much difficulty. Again, without the benefit of a "deep tissue" class. The other things we studied (pregnancy, geriatric, etc.) built upon those foundations.

One of my instructors expressed her opinion that the massage profession would be better off without the term "deep tissue" because it is so generic as to be meaningless... and I agree.

If "deep tissue" is simply Swedish applied with more pressure, why bother giving it a separate name? If pressure level is not the deciding factor, what is?
If "deep tissue" means "affecting tissues deep to the epidermis", then nearly all forms of massage/bodywork are "deep tissue" and the term doesn't define anything specific.
If "deep tissue" means "affecting REALLY deep tissues", then we need to define which tissues those are and why they are different from the rest.
If "deep tissue" means "specific work, like trigger points and frictioning", why not just say trigger point therapy and frictioning?
If "deep tissue" means something else very specific, we need more MTs and educators to become aware of that meaning and begin using the term in its proper context.

Do I tell people that I do "deep tissue" work, HELL YES. The ignorant public is so enamored of this meaningless phrase that they are astounded to learn that there are other, specific types of bodywork that will meet their needs more effectively. On the other hand, many people have had unpleasant (and often very painful) experiences with "deep tissue" massage, and they are afraid to go through that again. For them, I emphasize phrases like "positional release", "therapeutic stretching", "trigger point therapy", etc. that are less familiar and don't carry the same negative connotations.

Oh well, for now our profession seems intent on contining to ride that old, long-dead horse. We're flogging it on and somehow still getting something from it... if only we all knew what it really meant!

 

[Ablebaby]

Teaching Deep Tissue

"Deep Tissue" meaningless?

Because it is not specific enough? Because it doesn't make good MT's sound smart enough? Because it is generic?

Hmm. "I pulled a hammy." "I pulled a hamstring." "I pulled a ham." You'd rather we all be running around saying I pulled my Semitendinosus, Semimembranosus and Biceps femoris? t017 Oh, joy!

You want to change terminology that is somewhat understood by the general public just to be more meaningful? Does it really make that much of a difference? To the point of complaining that using the term is riding a long-dead horse? I don't think the horse is dead at all. A little less pizazz. Maybe not so impressive. But long dead? Not in my book, señor! t028

There is nothing wrong with being generic. It's a heck of a lot easier than trying to list 16 techniques that I may employ and five variations for three of them.

Yes, it can be hard for a client to locate the right therapist for their needs, and yes there are multiple ways to address an issue. But deleting a generic term, just because it is not specific enough opens a whole new can of worms. It may be easy if a therapist only provides three options of care for their clients, but it's not when one has a list as long as their arm.

You've had plenty of people who have had bad experiences with deep tissue. I've had plenty of people who have had bad experiences with therapists who can't produce effective relief. Some of those even provided "deep tissue". Expanding on a generic term can be a part of educating the client. But, changing the words "deep tissue" to be more meaningful in your book, will not change what a therapist is doing in their practice. If they are an ineffective therapist, they will continue to be, until they learn more.

If you agree with your prior instructor that the term is so terribly meaningless, then you and your instructor should be the first ones to instill change within our profession and stop using it. If you aren't willing to stop using it completely, telling others how they are riding an old, long-dead horse seems a bit over the top. The comment may come across to those who aren't familiar with our profession, as though using a generic term is blatantly wrong. Personally, I don't think it is.

Would you rather the name of the class to be "14 Site Specific Ways To Work Further Into The Tissue Than You Have Previously Been Taught in Your Basic 500 Hour Swedish Course Here At The XYZ School Of Massage And Holistic Studies, But (!!) Without The Use of The Fifth Digit On The Right Hand... Not The Left Hand"? Oh, that's snappy... t016

And, yes, I am a bit punchy today. Hit me.