I Can Handle the Pain, Part III

Hopefully Part 1 and Part 2 have primed us to reframe this statement. Now when thinking “I can handle the pain,” instead of hearing a phrase loaded with resignation, overwhelm, and gritted teeth, the connotation has shifted to one underlain with optimism and a clear plan of action toward positive change. When that action includes massage, often clients come to looking for “deep tissue” massage because they believe that is the same thing as therapeutic massage or the only type that provides relief.

When asking for deep tissue massage, clients will often say “you can use as much pressure as you want” or “I have a high pain threshold” or “I want to feel beat up when we’re done.” I’m sure a few of you reading have said something along these lines. (And that picture to the right is what I imagine you think you want when you say them.) Notice how all of these assume that to be effective, therapists have emulate steam rollers. However, this is a major misconception.

Heavy Pressure vs. Deep Tissue

“Deep” is a directional term in anatomy indicating toward the interior of the body or close to the bone. So when we talk about “deep tissue” we are working with the tissues – muscles, ligaments, tendons, fascia – farther from the skin. It does not automatically indicate a certain pressure level.

Part of the reason “heavy pressure” and “deep tissue” have become colloquially synonymous is likely due to our culturally generalized belief that more is always better. A little exercise is good, so exercising all of the time must be better. Cutting some carbs is good, so eliminating them all must be better. If a little pressure relieves some pain, being beaten and bruised must be better. The extremes sound silly, but it you get the point and probably have examples of your own.

Another reason the two terms seem interchangeable is because many of us have seem to have internalized the mildly masochistic, high school gym mantra “No Pain, No Gain!” If it doesn’t hurt, if we can’t really feel it, then nothing is happening. While healing naturally can come with some discomfort, deliberately inducing pain is rarely the way to go because pain is our body's threat signal. We want to signal safety so the body will expend resources on creating new patterns.

Dispelling the Myth

We can reach deep tissues and the root of the issue through gentle methods, by working with the body, with techniques that focus on finesse and safety over force and severity. Reaching deep tissues is easily accomplished through gentle holds, manipulations, stretches, and compressions. How these methods are experienced very by individual. Sometimes they feel like the most relaxing sensation you have ever felt. Sometimes it feels like movement through your entire body from one hold. Sometimes there's no sensation. Which you experience depends on your nervous system. And while gentle deep tissue and nervous system based techniques don't deliver that I-am-putty “being massaged” feeling, they are extremely effective.

For example, I worked with a client who suffered with intense low back pain for eight months. She saw doctors and chiropractors and did self-care in the form of stretching and foam rolling, but found very little relief and still could not perform ordinary activities such as playing soccer with her children or sitting comfortably in her car. The only techniques I used in our sessions were SMRT (Spontaneous Muscle Release Technique) and some myofascial stretching strung loosely together with occasional Swedish strokes. No elbows, no traditional deep tissue moves, no crushing pressure. Often this client would report that she could feel the effects of my working on her hips in her shoulders or elsewhere in her body and she always off the table surprised at the huge difference our session made. We worked together for six weeks and her back pain completely resolved.

Why It Is Important

There’s no denying that pressure can feel good. It is also worth noting that traditional, heavy pressure deep tissue can be highly effective when done correctly. But the misconception that “deep tissue” must be painful or heavy handed to work is harmful in that it can intimidate some, preventing them from seeking beneficial treatment. Even if the thought of “pain for gain” isn’t off-putting, I’d like to refer back to a question I asked in Part 1: If you don’t have to deal with the pain, why should you? And a new question: If your main goal is pain relief, wouldn’t you be open to try any technique that can reach and resolve the source of your issue?

So… What feels like it would work best for you? Does a gentle yet effective deep tissue massage sound appealing to you? Or would you still prefer the “beat ‘em up” styles? What’s your preference and why? Let me know in the comments below!

For questions you can also contact me directly at +1 (856) 857-7535

#deeptissuemassage #massage #painrelief #pain #musclehealth #musclepain #deeptissue #injuryrecovery #healing #body