Myotherapy vs Remedial Massage vs Sports Massage vs Relaxation & Thai Massage: What’s the Difference?
If you've ever looked at a massage treatment menu, you may have wondered: what's actually the difference between myotherapy, remedial massage, sports massage, relaxation massage and Thai massage?
There can be quite a bit of overlap between them. Many use hands-on techniques to work with muscles and other soft tissues, but the purpose of the treatment, level of assessment and overall approach can be quite different.
More importantly, one isn't necessarily better than another. It comes down to what your body needs and what you're hoping to get out of the session.
Here's how they differ.
Myotherapy
Best for: Musculoskeletal pain, injuries, recurring problems and movement limitations.
Myotherapy takes a more clinical approach to treating musculoskeletal complaints.
A myotherapist will generally spend time understanding what you're experiencing, what activities aggravate it and whether other factors may be contributing to the problem.
For example, if you're experiencing recurring calf pain when running, treatment doesn't necessarily mean simply massaging the calf. A myotherapist may also consider your ankle mobility, calf capacity, training load, previous injuries and how the area responds to different movements.
Depending on the practitioner and their qualifications, treatment may include:
Soft tissue techniques
Trigger point therapy
Myofascial techniques
Joint mobilisation
Stretching
Dry needling
Cupping
Exercise prescription
Mobility and strengthening exercises
Advice around activity and self-management
An important difference is that myotherapy isn't necessarily just a massage session.
Hands-on treatment may form part of the appointment, but rehabilitation, exercise and education can also play a significant role.
Consider myotherapy if: you have an injury, recurring pain or movement problem and you're looking for a combination of assessment, hands-on treatment and rehabilitation.
Remedial Massage
Best for: Muscle tightness, soreness, aches and pains, physical work demands and recovery.
Remedial massage is a targeted form of massage that focuses on areas causing discomfort or restriction.
Rather than providing the same full-body massage to everyone, a remedial massage therapist will usually ask about your symptoms, work, exercise and what you'd like to achieve from treatment.
They can then tailor the session accordingly.
Treatment may involve techniques such as deep tissue massage, soft tissue release, trigger point therapy, myofascial techniques, stretching, IASTM and other hands-on approaches depending on the therapist's training.
One common misconception is that remedial massage has to hurt to work.
It doesn't.
Certain areas may feel sensitive and some techniques may involve firmer pressure, but treatment shouldn't simply become a competition to see how much pressure you can tolerate.
Remedial massage also doesn't automatically mean deep tissue massage. The pressure and techniques used should depend on the individual and their goals.
Consider remedial massage if: you're experiencing muscular tightness, soreness or general aches and want targeted hands-on treatment.
Sports Massage
Best for: Runners, gym-goers, athletes and active people.
Sports massage and remedial massage can look very similar.
The biggest difference is often why the person is receiving treatment.
Sports massage considers the physical demands of training, competition and recovery. Treatment may therefore change depending on what you're training for and where you are in your training cycle.
For example, someone preparing for a marathon may book sports massage because their calves and quads are becoming increasingly sore as their weekly kilometres increase.
Someone playing competitive soccer might seek treatment between games to manage general lower-limb soreness.
A gym-goer might simply want treatment after a particularly demanding training block.
Sports massage can involve soft tissue techniques, deeper massage, trigger point work, stretching, mobility work and other recovery-focused approaches.
The timing matters too.
Immediately before an event, you probably don't want an extremely aggressive treatment that leaves you sore for the next two days.
After a marathon or major event, treatment may initially need to be gentler because the tissues have already experienced considerable loading.
During a normal training week, treatment can be adjusted around your harder sessions and recovery days.
And importantly, you don't have to be an elite athlete to get sports massage.
If you run, lift weights, cycle, swim, play weekend sport or train regularly, you're an active person and your treatment can be tailored accordingly.
Consider sports massage if: you're regularly training or competing and want your treatment planned around your sport, training demands and recovery.
General or Relaxation Massage
Best for: Stress relief, relaxation and general wellbeing.
Not every massage needs to be about fixing an injury.
Sometimes you just want a massage.
Relaxation massage generally places less emphasis on assessing a specific musculoskeletal condition and more emphasis on helping you feel comfortable and relaxed.
The treatment commonly uses longer, flowing strokes, rhythmic movements and gentle-to-moderate pressure across larger areas of the body.
You might choose relaxation massage because you've had a stressful few weeks, feel generally tense, have been sitting at a desk all day or simply enjoy receiving a massage.
That's a perfectly valid reason to book one.
You may still feel looser and more comfortable afterwards, but the treatment usually isn't structured around rehabilitating a particular injury or improving a specific physical limitation.
Consider relaxation massage if: your main goal is to unwind, relax and enjoy a general massage rather than address a particular injury.
Thai Massage
Best for: People who enjoy stretching, movement and a more active style of massage.
Thai massage can feel quite different from the other treatments discussed here.
Rather than primarily using traditional massage strokes, Thai massage commonly combines compression, assisted stretching and movement of the body through different positions.
Depending on the style, treatment may be performed on a mat rather than a traditional massage table, and you may remain clothed throughout the session.
The practitioner may use their hands, thumbs, forearms, elbows, knees or feet to apply pressure and guide the body through different movements.
The assisted stretching component is one of the features that makes Thai massage distinctive.
Some people love this because they enjoy the feeling of being stretched and moved rather than simply lying still while receiving massage.
However, Thai massage can vary significantly in intensity. If you have an injury, significant pain or restricted movement, make sure your therapist knows before treatment so they can modify the session appropriately.
Consider Thai massage if: you enjoy stretching, compression and a more active, movement-based massage experience.
What About Deep Tissue Massage?
Deep tissue massage is another term you'll often see, but it's helpful to understand that "deep tissue" usually describes the style or intensity of treatment rather than a completely separate healthcare profession.
A remedial massage therapist, sports massage therapist or myotherapist may all use deeper soft tissue techniques when appropriate.
And deeper isn't automatically better.
If someone applies as much pressure as possible but it causes you to tense up and guard throughout the entire treatment, that doesn't necessarily make the treatment more effective.
Good treatment should be appropriate for the person, the area being treated and the goal of the session.
Which One Should You Choose?
A simple way to decide is to start with why you're booking the appointment.
If you have a specific injury, recurring pain or movement limitation and want assessment and rehabilitation as part of your care, myotherapy may be appropriate.
If you're generally sore, tight or uncomfortable and want targeted hands-on treatment, remedial massage may be a good choice.
If you're running, training for an event, playing sport or regularly exercising and want treatment centred around training and recovery, sports massage may suit you.
If you're simply feeling stressed and want to switch off for an hour, relaxation massage is probably exactly what you're looking for.
And if you enjoy stretching, compression and a more active style of treatment, Thai massage may appeal to you.
Massage Isn't Always the Whole Solution
This is particularly important if you're seeking treatment because something keeps hurting.
Hands-on treatment can be helpful for managing soreness, reducing feelings of muscular tension and helping you feel more comfortable moving.
But if the same problem keeps returning, it may be worth asking why.
Take a runner with recurring Achilles pain.
Massage may help the calf and surrounding tissues feel better, but repeatedly massaging the area without considering anything else may only be part of the picture.
You might also need to consider changes in running volume, speed sessions, hills, calf and soleus strength, recovery, previous injuries and the overall capacity of the lower limb to tolerate running.
Similarly, someone experiencing recurring neck and shoulder discomfort may benefit from massage, but their management might also involve movement, strengthening, changes to their work setup or simply taking more regular breaks throughout the day.
That's where a combination of hands-on treatment, exercise, education and appropriate load management can become useful.
The Bottom Line
There is no single "best" type of massage.
The best treatment is the one that matches what you're experiencing and what you're trying to achieve.
Sometimes that's a targeted remedial treatment.
Sometimes it's a sports massage after a big training week.
Sometimes you need a more comprehensive assessment and rehabilitation approach.
And sometimes you've simply had a long week and want an hour to relax.
Understanding the difference between the different types of massage can help you choose the treatment that's most appropriate for you — rather than simply choosing whichever massage sounds the strongest.