Friction movements that make use of thumbs, fingertips or heels of hands to reach right down into the tissue to where more hidden tensions may lie. Having soothed and relaxed the body with the broader, lighter gliding and medium-depth strokes (Swedish Massage), deep tissue massage penetrates below the superficial muscle layers. Depth is increased gradually and although it is sometimes effective to go to the borderline of pain, it is counterproductive to overstep the mark.

The Book of Massage (modified)