- Written By: S.E. Smith
- Edited By: Bronwyn Harris
- Last Modified Date: 09 November 2011
-
Copyright Protected:
2003-2012 Conjecture Corporation
There are a number of situations in which massage is contraindicated, meaning that it is not recommended. In all cases, it is important to disclose any underlying medical conditions and concerns you may have to your massage therapist, so that he or she can adjust the session to fit your body and needs. It is also a good idea to discuss massage with your doctor, as he or she may believe that massage is contraindicated for you, or the doctor may have recommendations for modalities which would be best suited to your condition.
With all of the following conditions, massage is contraindicated: fever, infection, broken bones, infectious disease, high blood pressure, tumors, open wounds, muscle ruptures, heavy bruising, herniation, burns, myositis ossificans, thrombosis, and bleeding disorders such as hemophilia. Massage is also not recommended for people with severe heart conditions and some skin infections. Some gastrointestinal complaints can also be complicated by massage, and at the very least, massage can be uncomfortable in these situations, so you may want to discuss such situations with a massage therapist before you begin.
In some cases, it is safe to get massage, but the therapist should avoid deep work. These situations include massage on the elderly, along with people who have osteoporosis, arthritis, and rheumatism. Deep work is also contraindicated for people with autoimmune diease, Hodgkin's disease, recent scar tissue, and conditions like arteriosclerosis.
There are some conditions for which massage can be beneficial for some people, but not for others. For example, some doctors say that massage is contraindicated for cancer, while others recommend gentle massage for cancer patients. Joint dysfunction can be greatly eased by massage, but it can also be exacerbated, and likewise for some psychiatric conditions. Massage is also not recommended directly at the site of varicose veins.
Some people believe that massage is contraindicated for women who are menstruating. This is not, in fact, the case; in fact, massage can sometimes help with cramping. However, as a courtesy, you should ask the massage therapist if he or she is comfortable working on you. Massage can also be highly beneficial for pregnant women, when it is offered by a provider who has been trained to offer pregnancy massage.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of conditions for which massage is contraindicated. If you have a rare medical condition or you are taking medication to treat a specific medical issue, always consult your doctor before making an appointment for a massage.
Related Videos
Discuss this Article
|
anon223199
Post 7 |
Over the past 23 years, I have had massage therapy for a number of conditions, as well as having worked in offices where our patients had massage therapy. Massage is very beneficial to the body, and mind, in most cases. I have known on occasion a patient that just was too uncomfortable with the notion of someone touching them, or of them being undressed - but always modestly covered- so they did not benefit as much due to their tension over the situation. |
|
anon161113
Post 6 |
I believe the problem in cancer lies not with the of moving blood around but the movement of lymph and the risk, however small, of spreading the cancer.
|
|
anon132597
Post 4 |
it is only contraindicated to a trainee i.e., somebody at a beauty therapy school or on a massage course in college or university, as you have to be qualified in cancer massage as they wouldn't retain the knowledge base of the psychological and physiological problems of cancer. some people believe massaging a cancer patient "spreads" cancer cells but i think this ridiculous as if it was true doctors would strongly promote that they were to do no exercise or to keep joint movement to a minimum i think massaging a cancer patient is extremely beneficial. hope i helped! |
| Related Topics | |
|
FirstViolin
Post 3 |
Oh, I'm so glad that I don't have any of those conditions -- I love my massages way too much! |
|
Planch
Post 2 |
@streamfinder -- Apparently this is an ongoing concern about massage and cancer.
Doctors have thought in the past that maybe the blood stimulation provided by massage could cause the cancer to grow and spread more rapidly.
However, there has not been any totally conclusive evidence, and studies are ongoing to try to see if this is true or not.
There is a form of massage called oncology massage, which is actually recommended for many cancer patients.
Oncology massage often includes aspects of many different forms of bodywork, including acupressure and reflexology.
However, only massage therapist trained in oncology massage therapy techniques are qualified to provide such a massage, and it still may be contraindicated for some people. |
|
StreamFinder
Post 1 |
Out of curiosity, why would massage therapy be contraindicated in someone who has cancer?
I would think that it could be soothing and beneficial.
Can anybody tell me what the rationale behind this is? |
