Elite Body Clinic Ltd

"Medical massage is performed with the intent of improving conditions or pathologies that have been diagnosed by a physician; a wide variety of modalities or procedures are utilized to focus the treatment based on the diagnosed condition."

Relaxation massage is a gentle Swedish massage that uses smooth, gliding strokes to help you relax. The massage therapist will move at a slower pace and use lighter pressure.

There is less emphasis on working out serious adhesions or "knots" in the muscle tissue, which can be uncomfortable and cause some people tense up against the pressure.

In a relaxation massage, the therapist won't push your pain limits in order to get the muscle to release. You might even fall asleep! It's a good choice for someone who is getting a massage for the first time, or someone who just wants to bring their stress level down.

Relaxation massage is also good for someone who get massage as a special treat once a year. It's not realistic to expect that you can get rid of all your knots in one massage. But to drift into a deeply relaxed state in fifty minutes -- that's doable!

There are substantial health benefits to a relaxation massage. Gentle massage stimulates sensory nerve endings in the skin, which transmit messages through the nervous system and cause the brain to release endorphins.

These are the body's natural painkillers, feel-good chemicals that create a sense of well-being.

Massage further aids relaxation by stimulating the body's parasympathetic nervous system, sometimes called the "rest and digest system." Blood pressure decreases, heart rate slows, and digestive activity increases. Relaxation massage also increase blood circulation and stimulates the body's lymphatic system, which carries away waste products.

What is Deep Tissue Massage?
Deep tissue massage is a type of massage therapy that focuses on realigning deeper layers of muscles. It is used for chronic aches and pain and contracted areas such as a stiff neck and upper back, low back pain, leg muscle tightness, and sore shoulders.

Some of the strokes are the same as those used in classic massage therapy, but the movement is slower and the pressure is deeper and concentrated on areas of tension and pain in order to reach the sub-layer of muscles and the fascia (the connective tissue surrounding muscles).

How Does It Work? Techniques
With chronic muscle tension or injury, there may be adhesions (bands of painful, rigid tissue) in muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Adhesions can disrupt circulation and cause pain, limited movement, and inflammation.

Deep tissue massage works by physically breaking down these adhesions to relieve pain and restore normal movement. To do this, the massage therapist uses massage oil and often uses direct deep pressure. Muscles must be relaxed in order for the therapist to reach the deeper musculature.

Does Deep Tissue Massage Hurt?
At certain points during the massage, most people find there is usually some discomfort and pain.

It is important to tell the massage therapist when things hurt and if any soreness or pain you experience is outside your comfort range.

There is usually some stiffness or pain after a deep tissue massage, but it should subside within a day or so.

The massage therapist may recommend applying ice to the area after the massage.

Benefits of Deep Tissue Massage
Deep tissue massage usually focuses on a specific problem, such as chronic muscle pain, injury rehabilitation, and the following conditions:

Chronic pain
Lower back pain
Limited mobility
Recovery from injuries (e.g. whiplash, falls, sports injury)
Repetitive strain injury, such as carpal tunnel syndrome
Postural problems
Muscle tension in the hamstrings, glutes, IT band, legs, quadriceps, rhomboids, upper back
Osteoarthritis pain
Sciatica
Piriformis syndrome
Tennis elbow
Fibromyalgia
Muscle tension or spasm
After a workout or bodybuilding