How long should a first DTM take?
I had a new client today request an hours deep tissue massage and I explained to him that I would need to do a full consultation with him and advised him that an hours DTM may cause soreness the following day to all areas worked on, which could be from "head to toe". I advised that for his initial DTM he should have a 30 mins massage and gradually build up to a one hour DTM session to allow for his muscles to get used to the deeper techniques.
I have never given an hrs DTM due to the above principal and due to the fact that I would think that an hrs DTM would also be very labouring to the therapist???
Please can you share your ideas and views?
BH x
I will do a 1 hour deep tissue massage. Generally it's the back and back of legs that can take more pressure. I tend to use a medium pressure everywhere else. If you are using your body weight, correct body mechanics and working slowly with not using much oil then the massage will not be tiring for you. When you work slowly you'll be sinking into the muscles rather than beating them into submission.
In 30 minutes you would only really be able to cover the back, neck and shoulders.
Has your client had deep tissue massage or any kind of massage before? I sometimes find people who ask for deep tissue because that's what they think they need if they've had a light massage before maybe from a beauty therapists. (sorry not a dig at beauty therapists but I know a lot don't like to do massage and don't put much into it). Also some clients have pain issues and more specific trigger point work is more appropriate than going in deep everywhere.
Most of the work I do is deep tissue massage, admittedly what I give for a remedial massage is more intense and localised than a full body massage but all forms of massage need to be adjusted to the patients pain threshold as well as the physical dysfunctions we find as we are working around the body.
Yes massage is hard work, but IMO if something is worth doing it is worth doing properly 😉
I agree with Essence and Paul. I regularly give and receive ‘deep tissue’ massages lasting for an hour. This should not be too much of a burden for a therapist who has good body mechanics (which we’ve discussed on several previous threads). I would recommend the following DVDs:
‘Deep Tissue Massage’ by Art Riggs (box of 7 DVDs – very comprehensive: published by <a class="go2wpf-bbcode" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="www.deeptissuemassagemanual.com">www.deeptissuemassagemanual.com)
‘Deep Tissue & Neuromuscular Therapy’ by Sean Riehl (2 DVDs – published by <a class="go2wpf-bbcode" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="www.realbodywork.com">www.realbodywork.com )
Alan
I agree with all the advice that's been posted by 3 of the more experienced contributors to this forum. One could even argue that longer timeframes are actually preferable with deep tissue so as to allow the tissues to gradually let you in.
I do an hour of DTM, but tend to throw in other remedial techniques, in part to save my thumbs and also because I find other techniques are more appropriate to loosen up the tissues for deeper work. I agree that a half hour treatment would be ok, but if there is a lot of work to do, an hour would be better still.
i will do an hour of dtm but most of my clients have been coming to me for a while and are all used to dtm. when they first had dtm they were all pretty sore the next day but like essence says in 30 minutes you wouldnt be able to do head to toe i struggle to fit in a good neck shoulders and back in that time but then i do get carried away!!!!
i would say do what you and the client feels comfortable with then build on that!
Big thank you for all the replies..and the links 🙂
I think I'm just a little cautious with myself, as previous clients have commented on feeling sore the following day with 30 mins DTM, so I thought a full hour of DTM on many areas would be extremely sore for him. An hour does sound logical with allowing plenty of time for the muscles to relax and 'give' as opposed to trying to fit it all in into 30 mins.
Thanks again.
BH x
Wise words from Maxximed