Difference between Swedish and Deep Tissue Massage

Swedish and deep tissue massages are two of the most common types of massage therapies available. Both come with a number of different benefits. Although both of the therapies make use of the same strokes, they have different benefits and vary greatly when it comes to the use of pressure.

What are the key points of difference between the two?

A deep tissue therapy helps primarily with chronic pain or muscle recovery along with sports injuries. Swedish massage on the other hand promotes relaxation and reduces muscle tension that is caused by day-to-day activities like sitting at the computer.

One major point of difference is the use of pressure. Swedish massage is a gentler massage form that makes use of less tension as compared to a deep tissue massage. Both the massages are done using the palms and fingers to knead and manipulate the tissues. Swedish massage makes use of long strokes using light-to-firm pressure. Deep tissue massage however also makes use of the elbows and forearms to apply increased pressure.

A deep tissue massage, as the name suggests, goes deeper to target the inner layers of the muscles. It is used to treat muscle and tendon injuries, pain, and stiffness in your major muscle groups and joints. Swedish massage on the other hand targets the superficial layers of muscle. Its main focus lies on the parts of your body that tend to hold the most tension like the back, neck, and shoulders.

Check out our different massage therapies to get an idea about the range of therapies that are available to you.