Prolonged muscle strains or injuries cause adhesions (pain, hard tissue) in muscles, tendons and ligaments. Adhesions block blood flow and cause pain, restriction of movement and inflammation. Deep tissue massage physically dissolves these adhesions to relieve pain and restore normal movement. I use dough oil and direct high pressure is often applied. To reach the deepest muscles, the muscles must be relaxed.
In some cases, they persist and in others, the discomfort is the most painful. It is important to let the therapist know if something hurts and you feel pain that is outside of your comfort range. There is usually some stiffness or soreness after an intense body massage, but this should go away even after a day.