This type of massage therapy focuses on realigning deeper layers of muscles and connective tissue.  This 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 specific areas of tension and pain.  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 circulation, cause pain, inflammation, and limit movement.  Deep tissue works by physically breaking down these adhesions to relieve pain and restore normal movement.  To do this, the massage therapist often uses direct and deep pressure or friction that is applied across the grain of the muscles.