Sports Massage vs Deep Tissue

You might be feeling some muscle pain and thought about getting a massage therapy but feel lost with all the different types of massages available.

It wouldn’t be wise to just choose without knowing what each massage is.

That’s why we’re giving you an overview of the main differences and similarities between two of the main types of massages for treating muscle pain: sports massage vs deep tissue massage.

What is Deep Tissue Massage?

The deep tissue massage works exactly how you’d expect from its name. It’s a type of therapeutic massage that targets the deep layers of the muscles.

It works by applying slow and concentrated firm pressure on all these tissue layers above the muscle. The focus is mainly on the connective tissues, also known as fascia.

The primary aim of this massage is to reduce the tension and stiffness in the muscles and tissues and to relieve chronic pain.

What is Sports Massage?

The sports massage is also as the name suggests. It’s another fairly similar type of treatment massage. It’s geared more towards solving sports or high-activity problems.

This massage works on soft tissue muscle manipulation. It focuses on specific areas by applying pressure to the deeper layers of the muscles themselves.

The primary purpose of this type of massage is to aid with the recovery from existing injuries and prevent future injuries from happening.

Deep Tissue Massage vs Sports Massage: The Showdown

The deep tissue and the sports massages are both quite similar in lots of points. That’s probably why they’re a little confusing for most people, which makes it hard to choose the right one for you.

We’ve already presented a little description of both types. Now, let’s check them in more detail, comparing them and stating the similarities and differences between them.

Use

Deep tissue massage and sports massage are both similar in their uses. They’re both therapeutic massages with the main goal of fixing muscular issues, not for relaxation purposes.

The deep tissue massage is the more general of the two types. It doesn’t focus on a specific area but is applied to the full body instead, trying to address all areas of tension.

It’s used to reduce muscle tension and relax the body. It could be used to relieve pain at localized points like neck stiffness and lower or upper back pain. It’s also good to treat spasms and in some cases injuries. That’s why it’s suitable for people in general suffering chronic pains or minor injuries.

On the other hand, sports massage is directed more towards sports professionals and athletes or very active people who perform intense daily exercises. This massage type is more specialized. Its main focus is the muscular injuries, problems, and trauma suffered by athletes.

It helps in the healing process by improving the recovery from an injury and speed up the time it takes. It also tries to prevent any future injuries and boost the overall performance and flexibility of the athlete.

For these reasons, sports massage differs depending on the type of activity. It concentrates on the parts of the body that are more subjected to stress due to the nature of the specific sport.

While most normal people wouldn’t usually try sports massages, some sportspersons use the deep tissue type in some cases interchangeably with the sports massage.

Overall, both types are good for releasing the muscles’ tightness, increasing the blood circulation, and reducing the build of toxins in the body.

Area of Focus and Pressure

The deep tissue massage works mainly on all the inner layers on top of the muscles but not the muscles themselves. It concentrates on the tendons and the connective tissues (fascia). However, it doesn’t go in as deeply as the sports type.

The sports type works on the deeper layers of the muscle. It covers and manipulates all the soft tissues including the skin, ligaments, tendons, and fascia.

It’s obvious that there’s a fair amount of pressure applied in both massages. The pressure is applied layer by layer and it intensifies as the therapist reaches deeper layers. Due to this, it’s normal to feel some pain or discomfort at some points. It’s also possible to feel sore from some time after the massage.

Technique

Both types of massage use very similar techniques. They both work on breaking up the knots and stretching the tissues to release the stress and relax the muscles.

In the case of sports massage, it focuses more on large and old knots that accumulate over long periods due to constant training. It also uses passive and active stretching to help realign muscle fibers and fix abnormalities.

Both massages use various strokes like kneading, circular movements, tapping, and vibrations. However, sports massage could incorporate other techniques like soft tissue release, joint mobilization, and even dry-needling or cupping.

Sports Massage vs Deep Tissue: The Verdict

Deep tissue and sports massage aren’t that different but you need to know which one is best for your condition.

In all cases, it’s important to find certified therapists who are knowledgeable and experienced enough to correctly perform these types of massages.