A treatment’s not a cure, but the best treatment I’ve found so for computer use related injuries has been deep tissue massage. I’m not talking about getting a fluff & buff @ the day spa. I’m talking about a deep & sometimes painful massage that actually gets in there & fixes some problems. Sign me up, where do we start?

Step 1) What the hell is deep tissue?

Deep tissue massage is designed to relieve severe tension in the muscle connective tissue (fascia). This type of massage focuses on muscles below the ones on the surface and is often recommended for people with consistent pain. Computer use in generally pretty repetitive, so I bet it hurts in the same couple places pretty often right?

Step 2) Find the right therapist

You may need to try more than one therapist to find the right person, but having tried a couple dozen, I know what to look for.

First off, men & women are equal, so pick whichever you prefer. I’ve heard people say I want the strength of a man, but that’s just a stereotype. The deepest, most painful, (yet very constructive) massage I’ve ever lived through came from a 110lb middle aged woman skinny as a rail. It’s all about skills.

Look for someone who specializes in sports injuries and you’ll likely find they’re able to do wonders for a typing injury b/c they’re experienced in focusing on a troublesome muscle group. I’ve also noticed a lot of therapists are also yoga instructors or personal trainers. After one massage with a yoga instructor was done she showed me the yoga poses I needed to do for the muscles she saw as problem areas. Likewise the personal trainer taught me exercises to strengthen my back to avoid my chest muscles curling my shoulders inwards. I wasn’t charged extra as they only needed 2 minutes to show me what to do, but those are nice perks.

Avoid the day spas & resorts like the plague. Anything that smells corporate is bad. What happens is they provide all this atmosphere like the steam room, pool, stone walls, blah blah blah. Do you want pampering or do you want your muscles to stop hurting? All that stuff has overhead = company takes bigger cut = underpaid therapists = working more hours = an overworked therapist giving you a massage. Sounds great.

Instead, look for independents. Quite often I’ve seen 2-6 therapists share a simple generic office (you see that a lot in the dental & medical industry as well). Think business. If your therapist has enough loyal clients to go out on their own w/o relying on the resort throwing them work, they probably have more talent.

Step 3) What to expect

A good massage isn’t necessarily a pleasant one. The industry calls it a fluff & buff to give a light massage that feels good but doesn’t really last. That’s pampering. A good massage may actually make you sore for a couple days, but that’s good.

It’s important to communicate with your therapist. A lot of people get on the table and are scared to say push harder. Thing is, that makes the therapists job harder b/c they’re not mind readers. They don’t want to hurt you, so you need to communicate what pressure is right for you. The protocol is you can talk during a massage and likewise you should say what you want.

Step 4) Pay up

Prices vary greatly depending on location & where you’re going, but I’ve got some general guidelines to give you a ballpark on what this is gonna cost. I think 60 min is the ideal appointment for a 1st time visit with a therapist. A resort/spa is gonna probably go around 75-110/hr vs an independent will go 60-90/hr. Go independent, it’s cheaper and you’ll get a better massage.