Based on the Swedish Massage, deep tissue massage incorporates long gliding strokes but often blends trigger point therapy and friction to target muscle fibers that have formed adhesions ("knots") and are in need of focused attention. As these areas are often tender to touch, it's important to prepare the more superficial layers first so that the deeper, problematic areas are more ready and willing to relax and lengthen.
There are a lot of misconceptions about deep tissue massage-namely that it's all sharp elbows and tons of pressure. While at times more pressure may be applied, true deep tissue massage is about addressing muscles below the superficial ones, not about pounds per square inch.
Regularly scheduled deep tissue massage sessions can improve the natural function of muscles which have become less responsive due to repeated use or structural challenges.