-Maintain mobility in traumatised tissue and preserve original range of movement, whilst inhibiting the formation of scar tissue and preventing the formation of cross-links between the various fibrils. During the treatment, collagen fibrils form which develop consistently to maintain the functional requirements of the organ and prevent injury recurrence
-Produce local hyperaemia to reduce pain and increase the flow of required substrates and metabolites, aiding faster recovery
-Orient collagenous fibres in an optimal way so as to withstand the mechanical stress put on them
-Stimulate mechano-receptors to inhibit afferent nociceptive messages (gate control theory)
Deep massaging techniques can prevent increases in inflammation within the injured fibrous tissues and help heal them more effectively.
The injured tissues are located by making repetitive movements of the fingertips transverse to the fibres’ orientation, whilst avoiding friction on the skin.
Deep tissue massage is especially useful in cases of long-standing muscle trauma, where a fibrous scar has already been formed, as it exerts friction on the scar, helping to break up the adhesions.
Peritendinous inflammation such as tenosynovitis, where inflammation inhibits a tendon’s normal ability to move in its sheath can also be treated with this kind of massage. This abnormal tendon movement can cause the formation of fibrous scar tissue which may lead to chronic inflammation, deep tissue massage can reduce the presence of scar tissue and thus prevent these inflammatory problems.
Finally, deep tissue massage can also be useful when dealing with articular lesions, where the tissue manipulation can help to reduce the adhesions formed as a result of blood leakage.