Sacred Transcendence

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Reasons why you should NOT receive massage

Rachel Tice

by: Rachel Tice, LMT, 200RYT

 

Massages are extremely relaxing and many view massage as a luxury for only special occasions. All of this can be true, but what’s even more true is that receiving a regular massage can provide many health benefits like increased athletic performance, reduced musculoskeletal injury downtime, reduced pain, increased range of motion, and much more. Although massage can help with many things, you should NOT get a massage for several reasons! These are called contraindications to massage. Contraindications may include where you cannot receive massage to a localized area (localized contraindication), for a certain length of time, not at all (absolute contraindication), or to specific massage modalities. Localized contraindications are also known as regional contraindications. These are specific to an area on the body like the injection site of vaccines or insulin, and new injuries, and more. Total contraindications, or absolute contraindications are why you should not receive a massage at all or for a long time.

Localized (regional) contradiction:  

  • Injection sites from vaccinees 

  • New injury sites 

  • Areas that contain an undiagnosed lump 

  • Inflamed area, a suspicious mole, 

  • a localized skin rash (this does NOT include poison ivy, oak, or sumac) 

  • Cuts 

  • bruises 

  • Varicose veins 

  • Burns (sun or fire) 

  • Broken bones 

  • Plantar warts 

  • Athletes foot 

  • Acne 

  • Frostbite

     

Absolute (total) contraindications: 

  • Poison ivy, oak, or sumac: the blisters, weeping, and rash must be gone before receiving a massage 

  • Highly contagious diseases (cold, flu, COVID, etc.) 

  • Fever 

  • Chronic disease 

  • Low blood sugar 

  • Blood clots 

  • Kidney conditions 

  • Hypertension 

  • Recent surgery: you will be required to provide a signed doctor’s note to return to massage 

 

Although our passion as Licensed Massage Therapists is to provide relief from pain and dysfunction, we must first DO NO HARM! This was one of the very first things we are taught in massage school, and we will always err on the side of caution and opt for a signed clearance letter from your medical doctor before receiving a massage.