RESEARCH: Deep Tissue Massage Shown to Reduce Blood Pressure and Heart Rate

From Oct 2004 to Mar 2006 over 250 volunteers received a 45-60 minute deep tissue massage to test its affect on diastolic, systolic, and mean arterial blood pressure along with heart rate. Massage lowered participant numbers with heart rate showing an average reduction of 10.8 beats per minute.

These finding should not be seen as a replacement for blood pressure meds or exercise. Nonetheless, if you suffer from high blood pressure regular massages are a relaxing way to do something nice for yourself while positively affecting your blood pressure levels.

MODALITY MINUTE: What exactly is Deep Tissue Massage?

Deep tissue is a very clinical and generally not relaxing type of massage done with with the hand, an elbow or NMT Bars (neuromusculartherapy bars). Little to no lubricant is used resulting in a lot of drag on the skin and subsequently the underlying fascia and muscle. Obviously not intended to injure tissue or client, this treatment is designed to bring length to a muscle, therapeutic inflammation to an area, and thixotrophy to the tissue (increase of tissue viscosity) which aids healing, pain reduction, increased range of motion, and overall feeling better. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT to follow up with ice at home.

The most common indication is trigger points (points in a muscle that refer paint when pressed). Deep tissue pursues these areas with a pressure averaging 7 on a pain scale of 10 three times for about 12 seconds each. This application of pressure activates receptors within the muscle sending a message to the brain to “let go and relax.” After proper treatment of a trigger point, pain is usually less and usually there is no more referal pain. AHHHHH!!