A type of massage therapy, deep tissue massage involves applying firm pressure and slow strokes to reach deeper layers of muscle and fascia (the connective tissue surrounding muscles). It's used for chronic aches and pain and contracted areas such as a stiff neck and upper back, low back pain, leg muscle tightness, and sore shoulders.
Deep tissue massage, as defined by a 2018 article in the Journal of Bodywork And Movement Therapies, involves manipulation of the deep layers of muscle tissue in the body, including the fascia and other supportive tissue that make up joints. The purpose is to reach these layers in order to relax, lengthen and release harmful holding patterns
Compared to other popular types of massage techniques — including Swedish massage or acupressure, which tend to be lighter in pressure and can involve moving the body into certain positions — deep tissue massage is usually performed more slowly and firmly.
