The term masseuse is a French word that refers to a female who practices massage. (Males in the industry were known as masseurs.)

Deep tissue massage Deep tissue massage uses more pressure than Swedish massage. This is a good choice for people with chronic muscle problems such as soreness, injury or imbalance. Deep tissue massage helps relieve muscle tension, chronic muscle pain and anxiety.

For general tune-ups, consider scheduling a massage every four to six weeks. If you have a chronic condition or specific areas of strain and tension, consider scheduling a message every one to three weeks. If you're still unsure how often to get a massage, consider scheduling a consultation appointment.

While Swedish deep tissue massage is more relaxing, Chinese therapeutic massage is mainly aimed at releasing muscle knots formed from long-term muscle contraction, spasm, or repetitive inflammation. The more severe the muscle problem is, the more tender the area feels while being worked on in Chinese therapeutic style.