Swedish vs. Deep Tissue, Explained by a Licensed Massage Therapist

In my twelve years in the field, this is probably the most common question I get asked. “I don’t know what I need, what’s the difference?” You don’t know which does what, you just want to feel better. With all the misinformation online today, it can be really confusing. In this article I will explain the differences with techniques and the pros and cons of each to help you make the best decision for your body.

Have you ever heard, “If it doesn’t hurt, it’s not doing anything”? I hear it all the time. People are scared to try deep tissue because they think it’s going to hurt. That’s what they were told. Deep tissue, despite the name, is not associated with pressure at all. It’s called deep tissue, because as opposed to swedish, which focuses on the more superficial layers of the body, the focus is on the deeper muscles that lay within. Your body has layers and layers of muscles and sometimes a little more pressure is necessary to access those muscles; however, just pushing harder is not going to release them. Typically, deep tissue is going to be much slower in order not to cause harm to the body. It also requires a lot more in-depth knowledge of the body. We have to know what muscles are making it so that you can’t turn your head to the right, find them, and release them. While deep tissue isn’t supposed to hurt, it can still be perceived as a “good hurt”. The kind where you can tell, that’s the spot that hurts, get it out! Deep tissue is more about finding knots and adhesions in the body and working them out specifically.

Maybe you don’t have any knots or adhesions. You probably do, but maybe they don’t bother you. That’s where the swedish massage comes in. Because swedish doesn’t go into the deeper muscles of the body, it tends to be more associated with relaxation and is great for stress relief. Swedish massage uses longer, broader strokes that calm you and make you feel good. And yes, you can push harder with a good swedish massage! Because swedish massage is superficial and doesn’t require as in-depth knowledge of the body, some states, Missouri included, allow people other than licensed massage therapists to perform them. Estheticians often times will give you a swedish massage as they are trained to relax the body.

But what if you want both? That’s ok! I find most of the clients I have talked to want a nice mix. Truthfully, deep tissue isn’t even possible without some swedish as well. In order to access those deeper muscles in a way that doesn’t cause harm, those tissues need to be warmed up. Swedish techniques are generally used first to get the body to relaxed and warmed up so it can be susceptible to release. Remember, the body doesn't take too kindly to being forced to do anything. You need to be relaxed before any change can occur. For this reason, I don’t have deep tissue massage listed as a service on my menu. A full body deep tissue massage does not exist as you need a mix of both. Instead, I have the option for a customized therapeutic massage, as all deep tissue is customized to your body and your particular needs at that time.

Okay, so you know what they do, but what are the downsides? Although the main concern of deep tissue isn’t to hurt, it can cause some next day soreness. It’s similar to working out at the gym. It may not hurt while lifting weights or running, but you’re probably going to feel it the next day. That’s not always desirable. If you’re body is too sore after a massage, then that means too much pressure was used and you need to let your therapist know. Because of this, deep tissue is not usually recommended for a first-timer. We want you to get used to touch, and relaxation before going deep to start messing with stuff. You wouldn’t go to the gym for the first time and start racking up 100s of lbs, would you? Start slow, and work up to it.

So which one is right for you? That’s up to you to decide. Determine your goal for the session and go from there. Are you looking to zone out and maybe take a nap? Or do you have a spot that’s been bothering for months and you really need it worked out? Whichever is a higher priority is what I would recommend. Deep tissue for knot work. Swedish for relaxation.