THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DEEP TISSUE VS SPORTS MASSAGE

The short phrases that help best remember the difference between the two massages is that sports massage is “symptom focused” whereas deep tissue massage is “outcome focused.” 

This means that sports massage focuses around dysfunctional issues within the muscles and connective tissues. The aim is to do what is needed to help correct your body’s biomechanics. Although this type of massage is used by a lot of athletes and sports people, this type of massage isn’t just for them! Those who aren’t in a sporting background will still use sports massage as a greater help towards post injury maintenance, preventative measures for the body, circulation promotion or aid with circulatory issues and is preferred by people who like a stronger or firmer pressure massage. 

Those with an athletic background will use a sports massage for a great means of tissue and circulation stimulation with a pre or post game treatment, and also use sports massage as a great method of injury treatment and prevention!

Deep tissue massage being “outcome focused” means it’s a great benefit more so for people with general muscle tension or to treat more chronic muscle pain. Deep tissue is more therapeutic and calming in nature. A deep tissue massage therapist can still employ a lot of different techniques to assist with muscular pain so even though deep tissue massages can be calming and help to ease symptoms of anxiety and depression, a deep tissue massage therapist can still employ firmer techniques like trigger point therapy which can cause some discomfort when relieving tight muscles this way.