There are many types of massage methods, but for active people, deep-tissue massage can have the most positive impact on your body.

If you are an athlete, weekend warrior or just a very active person, deep-tissue massage primarily focuses on breaking down adhesions to help re-align deep muscle layers and connective tissues. Your body's neural system and fascia systems, which consist of fibrous tissue that surrounds and separates muscle fibers, can form adhesions or knots.

By applying deep gentle force to these adhesions, the muscle fibers are broken down from a knotted or bundled position into the proper direction and alignment of the overall muscle group. Many people are not aware that deep tissue massage can be an effective treatment of patellar tendonitis, IT or iliotibial band problems and, when caught, early plantar fasciitis.

Deep-tissue massage therapy techniques have become so effective that elite athletes and fitness professionals incorporate a steady regimen of massage as part of their training and recovery programs.

Why is deep-tissue massage an effective treatment for sports and fitness-related soreness, pain and injury? First and foremost, deep tissue massage increases vasodilatation of your blood vessels allowing more oxygen to enter your blood. Increased oxygen in the blood can stimulate cell growth, repair and promote quicker recovery time for muscles that were broken down during exercise.

Massage also increases and improves circulation for your lymphatic system. Your lymphatic system is key to helping your body remove bacterial and viral pathogens. A strong, well-circulating lymphatic system will keep these nasty bacterial and viral bugs in check so your body performs at peak levels during exercise.

Another trend within our medical community and with massage therapists is using massage for treating myofascial trigger points that cause pain and tenderness. The term "trigger point" has become a widely used term within fitness circles over the last 10 years. Trigger points are muscle knots, nodules or spindles within the bands of muscle fibers.

For example, if you run or bike a lot, you may have noticed these painful bumps or knots in your calf complex. Trigger points are generally caused by overloading or overworking specific muscle groups.

Another option is self-myofascial release of your trigger points which can be a safe, effective home treatment to break down those painful adhesions and it also promotes the body to remove the toxic buildup of lactic acid in those muscle fibers. Again, this leads to quicker recovery time and better performance during your next round of exercise or physical activity.

As a massage therapist works with you, they will identify trouble areas in your body that you may not even be aware of with their deep-tissue massage techniques. Once these trouble areas are located, they can open both ligature and muscle groups to loosen, relax and stimulate your musculoskeletal system into a healthy, happy state.

Here are a few other areas deep-tissue massage can be of benefit:

* Improves your flexibility - stiffness and tight muscles affect all of us, making range of motion more restricted. Massage helps keep your muscles loose and joints more fluid, making you more flexible and less likely to be injured when active.

* Relieves stress - a single massage session will lower your heart rate, help drop cortisol and insulin levels leaving you in a very relaxed and euphoric state.

* Improves posture - good posture is key to a healthy body. Massage helps keep your body movements flexible. With flexibility, you are more likely to keep your posture true and correct.

* Improves circulation - since deep tissue massage creates vasodilatation of your blood vessels, it helps the body move blood through congested areas more easily. This improved blood flow throughout your body will also improve how your body functions during exercise and living an active lifestyle.

* Promotes deep, fluid breathing - often one of the first parts of your body to be affected by stress and injury is your breathing. Deep tissue massage is an effective way to relax your breathing and bring it back to a deep regular rhythm. Proper breathing affects heart rate, blood flow and mental alertness, which are all key performance factors with being active.

Every year, approximately 23 million Americans are injured while exercising or performing a sports-related activity. Of those injuries, 95 percent are soft-tissue related and can be helped with deep tissue massage. Whether you're an elite athlete or just a weekend hiker, it may be time to have those sore muscles and minor injuries worked out with a great deep tissue massage.

Judd Jones is a director for the Hagadone Corporation.