To define deep tissue massage is to describe many effective and diverse techniques. To simplify but not lessen the quality of each technique, each one in its own way concentrates on affecting the sub-layer of musculature, ligaments, tendons and fascia. These techniques require advanced training and a more thorough understanding of anatomy and physiology.

The muscles must be relaxed in order to effectively perform deep tissue massage, otherwise tight surface muscles prevent the practitioner from reaching deeper musculature. Deep tissue helps with chronic muscular pain and injury rehabilitation, and reduces inflammation-related pain caused by arthritis and tendinitis.

Below is a list of the techniques we may integrate into our sessions.

Muscle Release
This technique combines compression, extension, movement and breath to give therapists a tool to provide relief from pain, treating such conditions as carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic low back pain, plantar fasciitis, sciatica, tennis elbow, knee pain, shin splints, frozen shoulder, hammer toes, piriformis syndrome, tendinitis, trigger finger and much more.

Osteopathic Approach
Focusing treatment on the most painful area, in general, does not lead to complete and sustained relief. Rather, a fundamental principle of osteopathy is to resolve the core problem, layer by layer. First, we locate and treat the area of greatest restriction (i.e., the part of the body with the greatest dysfunction that also has the most influence on other systems). Following that concept, we work sequentially from the area of greatest restriction to least restriction (sequencing). Because the underlying issue may be multifaceted and complex, this approach will ensure both complete and lasting results.

Soft Tissue Release
Soft tissue release (STR) is a powerful injury treatment technique developed in Europe with the world's fastest sprinters. STR deals directly with the reasons for soft tissue dysfunctions and subsequent referred pain and nerve entrapment. In acute conditions, STR affects the insidious way scar tissue is formed, and in chronic conditions STR breaks up the fibrotic and adhered mass of scar tissue to quickly allow the muscle to return to its natural resting length. Once the muscle or muscle group has returned to the original resting length, there is an immediate release from the pain induced by the inflammation response. The flowing motions of STR and total client control afford new levels of deep tissue work and subsequent pain relief.

Sports/Athletic Massage
Sports massage consists of specific components designed to reduce injuries, alleviate inflammation, provide warm-up, etc. for amateur and professional athletes before, during, after, and within their training regimens.

Trigger Point Therapy
Trigger point therapy is a noninvasive therapeutic modality for the relief and control of myofascial pain and dysfunction. The goal of treatment is the client’s recovery from, or a significant reduction in, myofascial pain. Treatment consists of trigger point compression, myomassage, passive stretching, and a regime of corrective exercises. Success may be measured subjectively by the level of pain reduction experienced by the client and objectively through increased range of motion, strength, endurance, and other measures of improved function. The therapist encourages the client to be personally responsible for their improvement, with attention to such factors as nutritional intake, stress, proper exercises, mechanical abnormalities, and other physical components.