When Should I Skip the Massage?
“No”. It’s not a word massage therapists like to use, and yet, there are times when turning down or postponing a massage is best for a client’s well-being. A great massage therapist will always be committed to their clients’ overall health and make their safety a priority.
Conditions or factors that prevent massage treatment are called Contraindications. Contraindications can be “Total”, meaning treatment should be avoided all together, or “Relative”, meaning treatment should be modified. We’ve compiled a list of common contraindications that might cause you to press pause on your massage plans and discuss your condition with your massage therapist.
Total Contraindications
- Shock
- Acute stage of stroke or heart attack
- Immediately following major surgery
- Severe and undiagnosed internal pain
- Hemorrhage
- Advanced Organ Failure
- Eclampsia
- Highly metastatic cancers
- Fever over 100.4 degrees
- Any Contagious Disease, including Meningitis and infectious skin conditions
- Under the influence of drug/alcohol or prescription pain medication
- Aneurysm
- Blood clots
- Any condition for which your medical doctor has prohibited massage treatment
Relative Contraindications
- Open wounds and burns
- Contusion
- Epilepsy
- Bone Fractures
- Pregnancy
- Recent head injury
- Seizure Disorders
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure
- Patients with compromised immune systems
- Joint dislocation, hypermobility or instability
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Osteoporosis
- Any condition for which your medial doctor has limited massage treatment
The lists above are not exhaustive, so please discuss all pre-existing conditions with your massage therapist and medical doctor prior to receiving treatment. If you are experiencing a medical problem, our experienced therapists can develop a plan to address your unique needs.