Welcome to deep tissue massage

For the beginner bodyworker or lay person who want to get into the reall nitty gritty of Deep Tissue Massage.

1. TO WELCOME

2. DEEP TISSUE MASSAGE

3. “If a carpenter is only as good as his tools and how he uses them, then the same can be applied to a massage therapist”

4. “ The physician must be experienced in many things… but assuredly also in rubbing…” …”Rubbing can bind a joint that is too loose and loosen a joint that is too rigid.” SO SAYS HIPPOCRATES…

5. START LOOKING AT THE BODY PHYSIOLOGICALLY INSTEAD OF ANATOMICALLY. UNSEQUENCE YOUR SEQUENCE. DEFINE AND REFINE YOUR INTENTION (COMPREHENSIVE CARE). EXPAND YOUR STROKE(S) VOCABULARY . APPLICATION OF STROKES- RULES OF DTM. LOOK AT DYSFUNCTIONS OF OUR SOFT TISSUE. GOALS FOR THIS WORKSHOP

6. The effectiveness of any massage depends not on the number of techniques used but on their application… “Massage is a powerful stimulus to the nervous system. It is important to know what response you are trying to elicit in your clients and apply the appropriate stimulus. To obtain a desired response, you must apply the correct stimulus, at the correct rate and level of pressure”. (Ralph R. Stephens) ONE THOUGHT…

7. WHY?

8. RIGID HARD STUCK STIFF INFLEXIBLE COMPRESSED DECONDITIONED TISSUE- feels mushy because no water SOFT TISSUE W/O FLUID(S)

9. SOFT PLIABLE FLEXIBLE BOUYANT RESILIENT ADAPTABLE HEALTHY TISSUE- is pliable (has give) is resilient (springs back) SOFT TISSUE WITH FLUID(S)

10. Myths of DT Massage… Myth #1: NO PAIN, NO GAIN

11. Myth #2 Deep Pressure with effleurage is Deep Tissue Massage.

12. Myth #3 Using just my elbows and forearms for deep tissue is good enough.

13. Myth #4 Deep Tissue Massage hurts!!

14. Used as an assessment tool, Our DT palpating skills can provide information about the tissue: 4T’s of palpating: TEMPERATURE TEXTURE TENDERNESS TONE ASSESSMENT…

15. BREAK UP OF NEUROLOGICAL HOLDING PATTERNS. INCREASE OF INTER TISSUE MOBILITY INCREASE IN PAIN FREE FUNCTIONAL ROM. RELEASE OF CHRONICALLY SHORTENED MUSCLES. THE INTENT OF A DTM :

16. FACILITATE NUTRIENT EXCHANGE. POSITIVE EFFECT ON FLUIDS. ASSESS!!! REMOVAL OF METABOLIC WASTE. RELEASING HYPERTONICITY. ELONGATING OF MUSCLE FIBERS. PURPOSE…

17. The ultimate goal… The ultimate goal of all Deep Tissue massage is to reestablish proper balance of muscular force around the skeleton. All to relieve unhealthy conditions of muscle tissues. This is achieved by the use of: <Slow methodical strokes> <Deep Pressure> <Stretching>

18. Rules of Deep Tissue Massage… Begin strokes parallel to muscle fibers -fluid movement. Strokes applied across muscle fibers –therapeutic affect. To relax/release a muscle- work on the attachment, then belly, then attachment. To stimulate a muscle- work both attachments, then belly.

19. RELAXATION OF NERVOUS SYSTEM. STIMULATION OF FLUID FLOW. MOBILIZATION OF SUPERFICIAL TISSUE. PLIABILITY OF DEEPER LAYERS. ELONGATION OF MUSCLE FIBERS. 5 -STEPS (STRATEGY OF DTM)

20. WORKING MUSCLES RELIEVING TENSION REDUCING INFLAMMATION DECREASING ADHESIONS STRETCHING FASCIA DEACTIVATING TP’S REALIGNING SCAR TISSUE HYDRATING SOFT TISSUE WITH DTM WE ARE…

21. BRUISING DIZZINESS SORENESS FEVER LIKE SYMPTOMS SIDE EFFECTS OF DT MASSAGE