This is why frequent massage and adaptations in movement patterns can lead to positive long-term changes in the shape and length of fascia. Connective tissue is “plastic,” whereas muscle is “elastic.” When connective tissue is deformed by an outside force, like deep massage techniques or stretching, the tissue will remain in the deformed state after the outside force has been removed for a certain period of time, then slowly return to its original shape. If a substance is elastic it will deform when manipulated by an outside force but snap back into its original shape when the outside force is removed (think of pulling and releasing a rubber band). The clay will flatten and remain flattened. Imagine compressing a piece of clay with your fist. If a substance is viscous, it will become deformed, and remain deformed, when an outside force manipulates it. It can be broken down into the words viscous (thick, sticky, gummy) and elastic (expandable, flexible, stretchy). The application of massage techniques that compress, lift, stretch, twist, and vibrate the tissue mechanically stir the ground substance and raise energy levels in the tissue, thereby reducing the possibility of these negative conditions. On the other hand, a sedentary lifestyle, poor hydration, poor nutrition, little physical movement, and tissue trauma related to injury cause the ground substance to cool, thicken, and enter a stiffened gel state, which can in turn lead to pain, decreased range of motion, patterns of tension in tissue that lead to postural imbalances, a greater risk for injury, and overall lethargy. The heat created in the tissue by movement warms and stirs the ground substance. Regular exercise, physical labor, stretching, proper hydration, and good nutrition promote a fluid, sol state in fascia. When it comes to connective tissue, especially fascia, the ground substance has the unique ability to move between a fluid, sol state to a viscous, gel state. It is a phenomenon in which gels become more fluid when they are stirred up and more solid when they are left undisturbed. You may remember the term thixotropy from a course on myofascial work. These concepts were introduced to the massage world by people with really big brains (e.g., Deane Juhan, Thomas Myers, Ida Rolf, Janet Travell), and even though I understand these concepts on a simpler level than the originators did, they inform my thinking about deep-tissue work. When I think about deep-tissue massage, concepts like thixotropy, viscoelasticity, piezoelectricity, adhesiveness, and tensegrity float around in my head. I want to work more deeply with my thinking, with my listening, and with my whole self to facilitate therapeutic change. Moreover, I am not just talking about pressure. At any time, and during any type of massage, I want to be able to slow down and work more deeply when I encounter localized tension. I think of it not as an independent massage system, but as a way to approach all soft-tissue structures, whether they are located superficially or deeply in the body. What I do know, personally, is that deep-tissue massage feels a certain way when I apply it. Others say, “Wait a minute our profession holds a general, not specific, definition of the term, and clients use it to describe the kind of massage they want.” As you move from your massage and bodywork classrooms to your massage and bodywork clients, you may feel a little confused about this much-loved, much-hated, and much-debated term. Others ask, “Does this mean the work should feel painful to the client?” Some say the term is a misnomer and should be completely stricken from massage literature. Others ask, “What if the myofascial structures needing deep-tissue massage are superficial?” Some say that deep-tissue massage is work that feels deep to the client. Some say it is massage directed at the deeper myofascial structures of the body. The term deep-tissue massage is defined by different authors in different ways. What is Deep-Tissue Massage? By Anne Williams Massage and Bodywork Magazine for the Visually Impaired - What is Deep-Tissue Massage? Back to Massage and Bodywork Issue List January/February 2013 Issue Back to January/February 2013 Article List
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