As you may know, there are many different types of massage. Whether you’re looking for relaxation or pain relief there’s always a kind of treatment that can help you feel better. Choosing the right sort of massage therapy depends strictly on your individual needs and preferences. Before deciding on hot stone massage vs deep tissue, think about your health, conditions, and lifestyle. Look closely at both treatments and their differences, and decide which option is going to work best for you!
Let’s Compare the Heated Bliss and Deep Relaxation
Without a doubt, each treatment is relaxing and recreative in its own way. Yet, deep tissue massage will have different goals and benefits than a much more relaxing treatment with heated stones. The techniques for performing them will vary as well. Both will also have slightly different effects on your tense muscles and joints. Let’s compare them, focusing on the most important differences:
Technique and Pressure
Relaxation and Stress Relief
Muscle Tension and Pain Relief
Circulation and Toxin Release
Flexibility and Range of Motion
Suitability for Different Needs
Precautions and Contraindications
Personal Preferences and Goals
Let’s take a look at them one by one!
Personal Preferences and Goals
Massages can fulfill various functions and improve your quality of life. So comparing hot stone massage vs deep tissue will give you a good idea about what you need depending on your preferences. Deep tissue treatment is more intense and pain-relieving, while hot stones’ warmth creates a positive feeling of well-being. If your main goal is to calm down, relax and reduce stress, try one of the relaxing types, like a hot stone massage. Deep tissue treatment is a great choice if you feel that all the stress accumulated in your body is starting to cause you pain.
Keep in mind that the type of massage therapy depends strictly on your needs and wants. If you aren’t certain yet about hot stone massage vs deep tissue, check with a professional massage therapist and decide on the best option.
Technique and Pressure
During deep tissue treatment, the specialist makes slower and more forceful strokes compared to the lighter pressure of hot stone massage. In the case of the latter, your body is weighed down by hot, smooth stones during hot stone treatment. They give different pressure at different points, so it’s a great choice if you prefer a milder form. Deep tissue treatment, on the other hand, involves traditional massage techniques.
In the first stage of hot stone therapy, the masseur moves the stones along the body. In the second, he performs circular movements on the body, and in the third, he kneads the skin folds formed between the stones. During deep tissue treatment, a therapist uses forearms, elbows, palms, fingers, and knuckles to get into your muscles’ deeper layers.
In a deep tissue massage therapist applies firmer pressure to the muscles and tissues than during a relaxing hot stone session. Yet, the force of this deep pressure is decided individually, depending on the tension of your tissues. Also, the firm pressure in deep tissue treatment is carried out at an angle of 45 degrees, which allows your tissue to stretch better. So much for the technicalities!
Relaxation and Stress Relief
Both treatments are very effective for everyday life stress, yet lead to relaxation by different means. Deep tissue treatment targets deeper muscle layers, while in hot stone massage, the therapist uses the stone for muscle relaxation. The placement of the hot stones will help in relieving stress in especially problematic areas. With extra services like aromatherapy, it’s a perfect method of relaxation that will make you feel heavenly!
Muscle Tension and Pain Relief
Deep tissue is a therapeutic massage, while hot stones relieve severe tension and pain only to some degree. Hot stone massage helps in decreasing muscle pain and relieves tension due to the combination of manual techniques and heat. Deep tissue sessions can rehabilitate muscular injuries and decrease arthritis symptoms.
The heat of hot stones increases the pain threshold, as a result lowering the overall feeling of pain. Deep tissue treatment is a type of therapy that restores the proper tension to the deep layers of muscles and connective tissue. It results in decreasing inflammation, and muscle tension, and brings pain relief.
Additionally, hot stones’ heat soothes aches much faster than a therapist can with their hands. On the other hand, one of the studies shows that deep tissue treatment has a positive effect on reducing chronic low back pain. Some of those who tried it even say it’s better than pain medicine!
Circulation and Toxin Release
Hot stones relax the muscles in a milder way, which also allows for better lymphatic flow and blood circulation in your body, than deep tissue massage. Stress reduction has a great impact on blood pressure in deep tissue treatment also. Besides, it affects positively your systolic, diastolic, and arterial blood pressure.
Toxin release due to improved blood circulation differs slightly in the case of deep tissue. Canadian science journalist and a therapist suggested that forceful deep-tissue treatment can help in the release of a toxic byproduct of muscle tissue breakdown.
Flexibility and Range of Motion
By easing the stiffness of your sore muscles, deep tissue, and hot stone treatment can help you improve flexibility and range of motion. One of the research suggests that massage therapy is beneficial in improving shoulder flexion and abduction.
Suitability for Different Needs
Deep tissue massage is great for chronic pain, while hot stones generally improve circulation and relax your muscles. Deep tissue treatment might also be helpful for some injuries. The warming benefits of hot stones are recommended especially in the winter period. It’s a pure pleasure to take advantage of their warming powers!
The hot stone treatment is lighter than a deep tissue intense massage. During the session, masseuses and masseuses may use aromatherapy. Essential massage oils additionally relax and calm your body and mind. A deep tissue treatment will be a better solution to different types of ailments. They include tension, painful muscles and spine, migraines, contractures, and chronic fatigue.
Precautions and Contraindications
Unlike hot stone treatment, deep tissue sessions might be painful to some degree. Deep tissue massage is less suited if you have a very low pain tolerance. Thanks to the hot stones, on the other hand, you will feel a pleasant warmth spreading smoothly throughout your body!
Some of the contraindications of deep tissue treatment can be long-term headaches and nausea, while side effects of hot stones include bruising, cuts, and increased risk of tissue damage. Yet, these are extremely rare and related to unqualified massage therapists with a lack of experience. Keep in mind it’s always best to consult your physician before deciding to start any kind of type of massage therapy.
Majchrzycki M, Kocur P, Kotwicki T. Deep tissue massage and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for low back pain: a prospective randomized trial. ScientificWorldJournal. 2014 Feb 23;2014:287597. doi: 10.1155/2014/287597. PMID: 24707200; PMCID: PMC3953439.
Yeun YR. Effectiveness of massage therapy on the range of motion of the shoulder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Phys Ther Sci. 2017 Feb;29(2):365-369. doi: 10.1589/jpts.29.365. Epub 2017 Feb 24. PMID: 28265175; PMCID: PMC5333006.
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