Ever wonder what the difference between sports and deep tissue massage is? Well, it’s a tricky question. Both are excellent forms of therapy that can help with pain relief, but they work for different reasons. So let me break down the differences for you to make an informed decision about which one to go for!
Sports vs Deep Tissue Massage
To understand the difference between these two types of massage therapy, let’s compare and contrast them.
What is a Sports Massage
A sports massage is a type of massage that is designed to help loosen tight muscles and tendons. It is most often used by athletes who have been training or playing their sport for an extended period, which can cause muscle fatigue and soreness in the body.
Sports massages can sometimes be done with oils, which will be applied to the skin and deep into the tissue beneath it; this allows blood flow (which carries nutrients) to reach damaged cells more efficiently.
A typical sports massage lasts between 45 minutes and an hour, and depending on how much your therapist wants you to move around during therapy, there may not be complete relaxation!
How Does a Sports Massage Differ From a Deep Tissue Massage
A deep tissue massage and sports massage differ in that a deep tissue massage focuses on the muscles and their fascia, whereas a sports massage will focus more on the body’s connective tissues.
A deep tissue massage generally lasts between 30 minutes to an hour, depending on your therapist.
The most significant difference is that there may be some pressure applied by using firm or even painful moves for them to work out knots and tightness of muscle fibers during a deep tissue massage.
In contrast, if this were done during a sports therapy session, if not careful it could cause some harm because they are not looking at those types of issues but rather soreness caused by overuse or fatigue.
Why Choose One Over the Other
You have the option of choosing one over the other. This could depend on what it is you need to alleviate the issue.
If your muscle aches are sorer from overuse or fatigue, then a deep tissue massage may be better for you.
However, if your pain is due to an injury, then sports therapy would be best because it will focus on the injured area instead of the body’s limbs and joints.
Deep tissue focuses mainly on working out tight muscles, whereas a sports massage concentrates more on stiffness caused by inflammation or other injuries that can affect mobility.
The Benefits of Each Type of Massage
According to Physiotherapists in Singapore, a sports massage has the following vital benefits:
- Improves circulation by increasing the flow of blood to your muscles.
- Promotes relaxation and reduces stress.
- It helps with flexibility as it loosens up tight areas in your body that may cause restriction or pain, such as hamstrings.
A deep tissue massage, on the other hand, will benefit you in the following ways:
- Works out the deeper layers of muscles to help break down scar tissue and adhesions.
- According to Promotes healing by helping with relief from chronic pain, stress, or inflammation, which can cause muscle tension.
- It helps you have a better range of motion as it loosens up tight areas in your body that may cause restriction or pain, such as hamstrings or lower back.
