What soft tissue therapy means
Soft tissue refers to everything around your bones and joints: muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia, the thin connective tissue that wraps muscles and links them together. When these tissues are overworked, injured or held in one position too long, they can become tender, guarded and less elastic.
Soft tissue therapy uses hands-on pressure and stretching, and in some cases smooth-edged tools, to work on those specific tissues. Unlike a general relaxation massage, the work is focused. It targets the muscles and attachments that your exam suggests are contributing to pain or restricted movement.
Joints and muscles influence each other constantly. A stiff joint makes nearby muscles guard, and tight muscles can pull a joint into an awkward resting position. That is why soft tissue work and adjustments are so often used together in the same visit.
Who soft tissue therapy may help
Most people who benefit describe a feeling of tightness, knots or a band of tension that never quite lets go. Common examples include the following.
- Neck and upper shoulder tension
- The muscles running from the base of the skull to the shoulders often tighten with stress and screen time. Focused work may ease that heavy, gripping sensation.
- Tension-type headaches
- Tender spots in the neck and shoulder muscles can refer pain toward the head. Easing them is one piece of care for frequent headaches that have been medically screened.
- Low back muscle spasm
- When back muscles lock up after lifting or a long drive, gentle soft tissue work may help them settle so you can move again.
- Tendon irritation
- Overused tendons around the elbow, shoulder or knee may respond to careful soft tissue work combined with gradual loading exercises.
- Stiffness after an injury
- As strained tissue heals, it can remain tight and less mobile. Hands-on work and movement aim to restore more normal glide and flexibility.
- Jaw and face muscle tightness
- Clenching and grinding can overwork the chewing muscles. Soft tissue care can be part of TMJ and jaw pain treatment.
What happens during treatment
Treatment is shaped by what your exam finds and by how your body responds in the moment.
Finding the source
Dr. Okhowat checks how you move, then feels for tender points, tight bands and areas that do not glide normally. Pain is not always where the problem started, so nearby regions are checked too.
Hands-on techniques
Depending on the findings, work may include sustained pressure on tender points, slow myofascial stretching, pin and stretch movements or instrument-assisted techniques using a smooth-edged tool. Pressure is matched to your comfort.
Movement afterward
Tissue that has just been worked tends to move more freely, so active movement or stretches often follow. This helps the body make use of the new range.
Keeping the change
You may receive simple self-care, such as stretches, posture changes or a self-massage technique, to help reduce the chance that tension rebuilds as quickly.
Potential benefits
Responses vary, but many people find soft tissue therapy helpful in these ways.
- May reduce muscle tightness and tender points.
- Can improve flexibility and the feeling of ease when moving.
- May help make adjustments more comfortable and effective.
- Can ease tension that contributes to some headaches.
- Offers a drug-free way to manage everyday muscle pain.
Is this right for me?
Soft tissue therapy is a reasonable option for most adults with muscle tension or mechanical pain. It can be adapted for people who prefer light pressure, and it can be avoided entirely over areas that should not be worked.
Some situations call for caution. Let Dr. Okhowat know if you take blood thinners, bruise easily, have varicose veins, are pregnant, or have a skin condition, open wound or recent surgery in the area.
Often a good fit
- Muscle knots, tightness or tension that keeps returning
- Stiffness that limits turning, reaching or bending
- Tension headaches that have already been medically evaluated
- You want hands-on care alongside adjustments
See a physician first
- A hot, red, swollen area, especially with fever
- Calf pain and swelling that could signal a blood clot
- A new lump or mass that has not been checked
- Sudden, severe headache or headache with fever and stiff neck
- Muscle weakness that is getting worse
- Severe bruising or pain after trauma
- Widespread pain with fatigue that has not been evaluated by a physician
If you have any of these, please see a physician or go to urgent care before booking. In an emergency, call 911.
How Dr. Okhowat approaches soft tissue therapy
Dr. Omid Okhowat brings more than 19 years of chiropractic experience to hands-on care. He earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Cleveland Chiropractic College and is licensed by the California State Board of Chiropractic Examiners.
His recognition as a Diplomate of the American Association of Integrative Medicine's College of Manipulative and Body Based Practices reflects a focus on hands-on methods, and he is also an AAIM Fellow. Soft tissue work is treated as a precise tool, not a general rubdown.
You may come in for one sore spot and learn how it connects to your posture, stress or training. The office on Wilshire Boulevard is a short drive from Hancock Park. That bigger picture shapes a plan that may also include adjustments and exercise.
- DC, Cleveland Chiropractic College
- AAIM Fellow
- AAIM Diplomate, Manipulative and Body Based Practices
- Over 19 years of experience
Dr. Okhowat is amazing with healing hands. Not your normal chiropractor. He is well knowledgeable and he has healing hands. The staff are fantastic and friendly. Highly recommend Dr. Okhowat to everyone
Questions patients ask
Is soft tissue therapy the same as a massage?
It overlaps with massage, but the goal is clinical rather than general relaxation. Work is directed at specific tissues found during your exam and usually combined with movement or exercise. It can still feel relaxing, which is a welcome bonus.
Does it hurt?
Working on a tender point can feel intense, often described as a good hurt, but it should stay within a level you can tolerate. Speak up at any time and the pressure will be adjusted. Treatment does not need to be painful to be useful.
What is a trigger point?
A trigger point is a sensitive spot in a tight band of muscle that can cause local pain or refer pain to another area, such as from the shoulder up into the head. Sustained pressure and stretching are common ways to address them.
What is instrument-assisted soft tissue work?
It uses a smooth, firm tool glided over the skin to help the clinician feel and treat restricted tissue. It can cause temporary redness and, in some people, mild bruising, so let the office know if you bruise easily or take blood thinners.
How soon might I feel a difference?
Some people notice easier movement right after a session, while others feel it more the next day once any soreness fades. Longer standing tension usually needs several visits plus home care to show lasting change.
Should I be sore afterward?
Mild soreness for a day or two is common, especially after the first session. Gentle movement, hydration and light heat often help. Severe or worsening pain is not expected and should be reported.
Can soft tissue therapy help my jaw?
Tight chewing muscles are a common part of jaw pain, and many people find focused work on those muscles helpful as part of a broader TMJ plan. Jaw pain with fever, facial swelling or dental problems should be checked by a dentist or physician first.
Can soft tissue work be combined with an adjustment in the same visit?
Yes, the two are commonly combined. Easing guarded muscles first can make a joint more comfortable to adjust, and some areas may only need soft tissue work. Wear loose clothing so the treated areas are easy to reach, and any change in clothing happens only with your consent.