“Should I book a sports massage or a deep tissue massage?” It’s one of the most common questions we get. The two overlap a lot, but they’re not the same thing. Here’s the difference and how to pick.
Deep tissue massage: a technique
Deep tissue massage is a technique. Your therapist uses slow, firm, sustained pressure to reach the deeper layers of muscle, tendon and fascia. It’s great for:
- Chronic tightness in the back, neck and shoulders
- Breaking up scar tissue from old injuries
- Areas that feel “stuck” no matter how much you stretch
A deep tissue session can cover the whole body or focus on one or two problem areas.
Sports massage: an approach
Sports massage is an approach built around performance and recovery. It uses many techniques, deep tissue included, and picks the right ones for your sport and your training.
A sports massage might include:
- Deep tissue and trigger point work
- Cupping and instrument-assisted scraping
- Percussive therapy
- Active work, where you move a limb while the therapist works on the muscle
- Assisted stretching
It also changes with your schedule. Before an event, the work is lighter and faster. After an event or during a recovery week, it can go deeper.
Which one should you book?
Book a sports massage if you’re training for something, play a sport, lift regularly or have a nagging injury that’s affecting how you perform.
Book a deep tissue massage if your main goal is relieving chronic tension, like a tight back from desk work, and you don’t have a specific training goal.
Not sure? It doesn’t matter as much as you’d think. At Total Muscle Therapy every session starts with a consultation, and your therapist will use whatever techniques your body needs. Sessions are priced by length, not by type, so you won’t pay more for one over the other.
What both have in common
Either way, expect a massage that’s more focused and more active than a typical spa massage. Some soreness for a day or two afterward is normal, especially after deeper work. Drink water, keep moving gently and let your therapist know how you felt so the next session can be dialed in.
Book in Lehi
Read more about our sports massage and deep tissue massage, check pricing, or book online to see live availability.
