Deep Pressure vs. Deep Tissue

There’s a common misconception—even among massage therapists—that deep tissue massage has to be an elbow-to-the-table, "no pain, no gain" experience. Not true! Let’s break down the difference between true deep tissue massage and deep pressure massage to help you understand what you might need.

Deep Tissue

Deep tissue massage focuses on reaching the deeper layers of muscles and connective tissues. Typically, the massage therapist will use slow, deliberate strokes to help the muscle “melt” and release tension. The goal of deep tissue work is to go BEYOND the surface, relieving tightness in deeper muscle layers, which can make a real difference in how your body moves and feels.

Deep Pressure

Deep pressure is just what it sounds like: strong, firm pressure applied to the muscles, but it doesn’t necessarily target deeper layers. Instead, it’s simply a more forceful approach, pushing harder against the muscles without necessarily having the same intentional focus on deeper structures that true deep tissue massage offers.

This leads me to an important distinction between pressure and depth in massage.

In each session, one of my goals is to find a pressure level that’s effective in releasing trigger points and tension, but also comfortable for the client. For a muscle to release tension, it needs to relax fully so it can reset. If the pressure is too intense and you’re tensing up against it, then the muscle won’t release as effectively.

For my approach, on a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being the most painful), your pain level should max out around a 7. You should be able to relax, breathe through the strokes, and let go of tension as pressure is applied to sore spots and trigger points.

Everyone’s pain tolerance is different, of course. For some, a “7” only requires light pressure, while others need a deeper, firmer touch to get there. In my practice, I find most clients enjoy somewhere between medium to firm pressure, making for both effective and enjoyable relief. Just make sure to always speak up for yourself should you need more or less pressure in your massage session!