Overview

Clients who visit massage therapists often ask questions: What’s Swedish massage? What’s deep tissue massage? What are the differences? Which one I should choose?

New learners of massage therapy are also confused with the questions.

This article tries to answer these questions, so that the clients may be better informed before making decisions. Massage therapists may also get more ideas according to clients’ needs in the conversation process.

Swedish Massage Therapy

Swedish massage is the most basic among all the massage options, and is also the most popular one. Whether to choose Swedish massage therapy may depend on the client’s needs. For example, if a client feels depressed and is looking for relaxation, then Swedish massage therapy may be the one to choose.

Scientific studies have revealed many health benefits of Swedish massage therapy, including: decreased stress and anxiety; boost immunity; improve sleep
quality; increase blood circulation; relieve pain and headaches; alleviate premenstrual syndrome, etc.

If a client is looking for some or all of the aforementioned benefits, Swedish massage therapy is recommended.

According to researches published in National Library of Medicine, Swedish massage has shown health benefits and is highly recommended to prevent some
diseases as well. [1]

Swedish massage techniques include applying manual pressure to touch and move client’s soft tissue, with comparatively gentle pressure and continuous stroking.

However, some clients would not like Swedish massage because they didn’t feel anything after massage. Even after massage therapist added the strongest
pressure, some clients would still not feel any good effects.

In this case, and some other reasons which will be covered in this article below, clients and massage therapists may consider deep tissue massage therapy.

Deep Tissue Massage Therapy

Some clients have very tight or strained muscles. Some are athletes with injuries. Some are physical laborers with overused muscle masses. Deep tissue massage may be good for those clients because it could often help release chronic muscle tension.

Deep tissue massage uses slow strokes to release strains in the deeper layers of client’s muscle, tendons, fascia, or dense connective tissue. A therapist gradually applies more pressure, uses special techniques with finger, fist, forearm, or maybe even elbow to progressively reach the deeper tissue, and massages layer under layer of muscles.

Deep tissue massage therapy may be tough to some clients, but often be very effective. For example, according to research published on Scientific World Journal, deep tissue massage may reduce chronic low back pain. [2] According to research published on National Library of Medicine, deep tissue massage therapy may relieve pain and increase comfort levels of the cesarean patients. [3] According to National Library of Medicine, deep tissue massage may benefit client’s blood pressure and heart rate [4] , and may relieve sciatica [5] , etc.

Deep Tissue or Swedish Massage?

Swedish massage may be too shallow for clients of big muscular mass. Deep tissue massage may be too hard for clients who just want relax.

Swedish massage is often performed as broad as full-body massage, while deep tissue massage often focuses on certain specific muscle groups.

Swedish massage strokes are often parallel to the direction of muscle fibers, while deep tissue massage strokes are frequently perpendicular to the direction of
muscle fibers.

Swedish massage therapy techniques include effleurage, petrissage, tapotement, vibration, and brushing, while deep tissue techniques include skin rolling, glide, friction, compression, static, pumping, cross fiber.

Before massage session starts, a client would better let the therapist know what’s the client’s goals are and what’s the preferred level of massage pressure the client could receive. A client would also mention any muscle tensions or sore spots on which they would like the therapist to work on. It’s also recommended that the therapist know any injuries the client may have.

Massage therapists may educate clients to help them make informed decision.

Even though some clients may better be served deep tissue massage, however, Swedish techniques could still be used to warm up the tissues in preparation for more deep application, and might also be used at the end of a deep tissue massage session.

Resources

[1] NIH: “Swedish Massage: A Systematic Review of its Physical and Psychological
Benefits”
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28659510/

[2] NIH: “Deep Tissue Massage and Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs for Low
Back Pain: A Prospective Randomized Trial”
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3953439/

[3] NIH: “Effects of deep tissue massage on pain and comfort after cesarean: A
randomized controlled trial” (January 10, 2022)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33548749/

[4] NIH: “The effect of deep-tissue massage therapy on blood pressure and heart
rate”
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18315516/

[5] NIH: “Sciatica”
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507908/

[6] Medical News Today: “Swedish massage vs. deep tissue massage: What's the
difference?”
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326983

[7] LiveScience: “Deep tissue vs Swedish massage, which is best?”
https://www.livescience.com/deep-tissue-vs-swedish-massage