Structural and Functional Massage - What is the difference?

Functional and Structural Massage Therapy. What are the main differences?

Functional Massage can probably be defined as "the kneading or rubbing of parts of the body to reduce pain or stiffness or help relaxation". I would call that as a functional massage. It is mainly focused on the symptoms of a problem, not on the root cause.

This is the area where most of the Massage therapist are working in. Unfortunately.

The biggest challenge in Massage though is structural work. This means you actually try to change posture pattern throughout the entire body.

My favorite structural massage therapy is Rolfing. Many of the Rolfers actually seem to bypass your initial concern and go straight to therapeutic work that changes the structure of the whole body. In 10 sessions they are able to make the needed structural changes, that in the view of Rolfing will then take care of your problem at the same time, without them specifically addressing it.

Even though Chinese Massage does not work on the gross material plane, this style can probably count as an energetic structural massage, because it actually changes disrupted energy patterns in the whole body.

You can use any kind of massage style and use it in a functional or structural way. It is your choice.

Techniques of Massage - from Superficial to Deep

Techniques of Massage - from Superficial to Deep is another very important aspect of how I have learned to approach massage.

Some great massage styles are based on the view that the body consists of layers. These styles claim that a massage can also only be successful if you deal with the layers in its order from superficial to deep.

I totally agree with this assessment.

But there is additional things that support this idea:

1. It is way less stressful on the client's body to work in layers, as you prepare each layer, and only move deeper, if a layer is ready to be passed. Too much pressure on an unprepared or insufficiently prepared tissue can lead to damage and injury - and because the first principle of healing is "to do no harm", this approach is somewhat counterproductive - to say the least.

How do you feel when a tissue is ready?

It is simple and I laid it out on my massage video blog in the video "Real Deep Tissue Massage". A layer will show you if its ready if it let's you go deeper without major restriction or resistance.

Too many people like to just jam on a muscle, which I would call muscle mashing but not massage therapy.


Techniques of massage should always use the least amount of necessary strength

2. In the above mentioned video I also put forward that working in layers is much less taxing on the massage therapist (yeah I know I'm thinking in a selfish way - but I want to do my work for a long time - so I also have to take care of my own body)

If you are working on a layer that is ready or pass a layer that is sufficiently prepared, you will need less effort on your part.

Techniques of massage will only be really effective if they are welcomed by the body. If they are not the body will brace and you will have to use more pressure than appropriate for the situation.

That's why relaxing of the client is a very important part of massage. Less overall muscle tension will give you easier access.

Check out the Real Deep Tissue Techniques of massage