Welcome to Olympia Deep Tissue Massage by Dean Atkins, LMT
No fluff here. I get DEEP to the root of your pain.
I begin every massage therapy session by asking how I can make it perfect for you. I carefully listen to your goals for the session and provide exactly what you need to heal.
My approach to therapeutic massage is quite different from most therapists. I use a wide variety of massage techniques based on your individual needs. There’s no ‘cookie-cutter’ or ‘one-size-fits-all’ method here. I’m confident that I can relieve or eliminate your pain and muscle tension, whether you’ve been recently injured, experience occasional soreness, or suffer from chronic pain.
My specialties include Deep Tissue Massage for acute and chronic pain, Injury Treatment, Car Accident Massage Therapy (whiplash), Headache Relief, Strains and Sprains, Medical Massage, and Sports Injury Rehabilitation.
I begin most sessions by applying heat therapy packs to the areas of your body that I’ll be working on. It feels amazing and calms your muscles and nervous system. You’ll slowly feel the tension unwind. During the deep tissue massage, I apply the precise amount of pressure needed to relieve tight and sore muscles, adjusting pressure according to your comfort level. As your muscles relax, I use more advanced massage therapy techniques to reach the deeper layers of tissue that may be causing your pain. Occasionally, it may feel intense, but once I release the pressure, you’ll experience a surge of blood circulation to the affected area, flushing out deoxygenated blood and replacing it with fresh, oxygenated blood. This process helps your muscles heal and recover naturally.
I also incorporate Passive and Assisted Stretching techniques that reduce tension and increase flexibility. I believe stretching tight muscles is key to healing. During the session, I assess your range of motion and identify restrictions or movement limitations that may have been present for weeks, months, or even years. My advanced manual therapy techniques help lengthen tight muscles, improving mobility and reducing pain.
After your session, I’ll show you specific stretching exercises to target the muscles contributing to your discomfort, tension, and restricted movement.
If you’re tired of hurting, I encourage you to contact me for professional deep tissue massage for pain relief and relaxation. I promise I can help.
As a skilled massage therapist, I use precise techniques to address stress, imbalance, and discomfort, helping you maintain a healthier, pain-free body.
Unlike classic massage therapy, which is used for relaxation, deep tissue massage usually focuses on a specific problem, such as: chronic pain, limited mobility, recovery from injuries (e.g. whiplash, falls, sports injury), repetitive strain injuries, postural problems, fibromyalgia, or muscle tension and spasms. Deep tissue massage therapy is a type of therapeutic massage that focuses on realigning deeper layers of muscles and connective tissue. It is especially helpful for chronically tense and contracted areas such as stiff necks, low back tightness, and sore shoulders. Some of the same strokes are used as classic massage therapy, but the movement is slower and the pressure is deeper and concentrated on areas of muscle tension and pain.
How Does Deep Tissue Massage Work? When there is chronic muscle tension or injury, there are usually adhesions (bands of painful, rigid tissue) in muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Adhesions can block blood circulation and cause pain, limited movement, and inflammation. Deep tissue massage works by physically breaking down these adhesions to relieve pain and restore normal movement. To do this, I often use direct deep pressure or friction applied across the grain of the muscles.
Will Deep Tissue Massage Hurt? At certain points during the massage therapy session, most people find there is usually some discomfort and pain. It is important to let me know when things hurt and if any soreness or pain you experience is outside your comfort range. There is usually some tenderness after a deep tissue massage, but it should subside within a day or so.
Trigger Point Therapy, also known as Myotherapy or Neuromuscular Therapy, applies concentrated finger pressure to “trigger points” (painful irritated areas in muscles) to break cycles of spasm and pain. It appears that most muscular pains have a trigger point that causes the muscle to go into spasms. Trigger point therapy involves placing pressure on that trigger point so that the muscle can relax and the pain can be lessened. Pressure is generally applied with fingers, knuckles, and elbows.
This form of therapeutic massage helps relieve chronic pain, muscle tightness, and repetitive strain injuries, improving overall mobility and comfort.
Sports massage focuses on muscles relevant to athletic performance and recovery. For athletes who train continuously, the goal is to enhance endurance, lessen the chance of sports injury, and shorten the time needed to recover from an event. Sports massage therapy may utilize a variety of techniques such as Swedish massage, trigger point therapy, and hydrotherapy.
Prior to an athletic event, sports massage may be used with stretching to help athletes loosen, warm, and prepare their muscles so their performance and endurance might be enhanced.
Following an event, it may be used to relieve pain, prevent stiffness, and restore muscles to their normal state. Sports massage therapy is also beneficial for injury rehabilitation and recovery.
The term Swedish Massage refers to a variety of techniques specifically designed to relax muscles by applying pressure to them against deeper muscles and bones and rubbing in the same direction as the flow of blood circulation returning to the heart. This form of therapeutic massage was created at the turn of the century by Henry Peter Ling in Sweden. It involves kneading, stroking, friction, tapping, and vibration and may provide relief from stiffness, numbness, pain, constipation, and other health problems.
The main purpose of Swedish massage therapy is to increase oxygen flow in the blood and release toxins from the muscles. Other possible benefits include stimulation of circulation, an increase in muscle tone, and balance of the musculoskeletal system.
Swedish massage in Lacey, Washington shortens recovery time from muscular strain by flushing out metabolic waste and improving overall wellness.
Myofascial Release is a specialized therapeutic approach that addresses restrictions in the fascia—the connective tissue that surrounds and supports muscles and joints. Fascial restrictions can develop from injury, stress, repetitive strain, or poor posture, often contributing to pain, stiffness, and limited mobility. My approach focuses on gently releasing these restrictions to help reduce discomfort and restore natural movement.
Each session begins with an individualized assessment of movement patterns and areas of tension. Based on your specific needs, I apply sustained, hands-on techniques designed to release fascial restrictions, improve tissue mobility, and support the body’s natural healing process.
Automobile accidents can cause a wide range of injuries, from minor strains and soreness to more serious musculoskeletal or soft-tissue damage. My trauma-informed approach focuses on identifying hidden injuries, relieving pain, restoring mobility, and supporting recovery after a collision.
Each session begins with an individualized assessment. Based on your symptoms and accident history, I apply proven therapeutic techniques—such as gentle manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, soft-tissue mobilization, and pain-relief methods—to help your body heal and regain function.
You share what hurts and what you need most.
Focused techniques find and release the real tension.
Stretching helps muscles relax and move again.
Simple tips keep your body feeling better longer.
A small river named Duden
A small river named Duden
A small river named Duden
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