Swedish vs Therapeutic vs Deep Tissue vs Deep Pressure: What’s the Difference?

In today’s blog post, I hope to clarify for you some of the common massage therapy terminology you may hear but maybe are not too sure on what it all means.  After all, when you go to a Massage Therapist, you want to be very clear on what it is that you are asking to receive, and the therapist needs to be clear on what type of massage they are performing.  You also want to be sure that the therapist you are seeing is, in fact, able to perform the type you are looking for, as some do not perform all types. Please read to the end, as that is where I address my pet peeve!!

Swedish vs Therapeutic Massage

Swedish Massage 

This type of massage is typically performed with a lighter touch, longer flowing strokes, and is generally a more superficial type of body work.  When receiving Swedish Massage, the therapist will likely not be working on any specific areas of tension, although they may use things like hot towels, hot stones or essential oils to enhance the experience. Swedish is great for pure relaxation and stress reduction.

Therapeutic

This type of massage is typically performed with a somewhat firmer touch, maybe even a deeper touch as needed, and with the goal of releasing specific areas of tension. When receiving a therapeutic massage, the therapist will commonly use methods and modalities such as trigger point therapy, stretching, or positional release techniques, to name a few.  They may even utilize cupping and scraping, which are some of the things I like to add. Therapeutic Massage is for you if you have tight, sore or painful areas that need release.  Think upper back, neck, chest and shoulders if you sit at a desk all day, or hamstring, quads and glute work if you are physically active.

Deep Tissue vs Deep Pressure

Now we get to my favorite part! Or should I say, my pet peeve!!! These two are the most commonly confused terms, in my opinion, in massage therapy!  Let me see if I can set you all straight!

Believe it or not, deep tissue is NOT the same as deep pressure!!!  Please read that again!!  I will say it louder…DEEP TISSUE IS NOT THE SAME AS DEEP PRESSURE! 

So, what is deep tissue then?  It is actually a method, usually used in a therapeutic massage setting, as needed.  It is a method of accessing the deeper layers of muscle tissue by slowly allowing the fibers to “melt”, if you will, under the therapist’s hands. This is done by utilizing various techniques that warm up the tissues slowly, encouraging release of the more superficial fibers, thereby allowing the therapist to reach those deeper layers without “digging in” as hard as humanly possible.  It is absolutely possible to do this without feeling as though the therapist is squashing your body to a pulp.  This is not to say that the occasional really firm hand is not needed, as it does have a time and place.  However, you should NEVER feel in pain beyond a 7 on a scale of 1-10. 

Deep pressure is just as it sounds, deep pressure.  It simply means you are telling the massage therapist you would like a very firm touch. You can have a relaxation massage with a deeper touch, if that is what you like!  That is all, nothing more to say here!

Hopefully I have made it a little easier for you to navigate the world of massage therapy! To recap, remember these points:

Swedish is relaxation

Therapeutic is to work out tension

Deep tissue is a method, typically used in a therapeutic setting

Deep pressure it what it sounds like

As for myself as a Massage Therapist, I specialize in therapeutic work, however, I love to do all of these types!!  Hope to see you on my table for just the right type of massage for you!

Stay Well!