Contraindications
conditions that should not be massaged
Acute Inflammation
Occurs in any of the soft tissues; skin (wounds and blisters), muscles, tendons, ligaments, bursae and synovial capsules.
Common Symptoms - Pain, dysfunction in the affected area, heat and redness with swelling to local area of injury.
On deep tissue the palpation of tissue is harder and denser than surrounding tissues. Focused pressure may cause sharp pain. These symptoms indicate am acute problem and require careful massage with focus on lymphatic flow.
Contusions
These are impact injuries causing bleeding within the muscle. Massage to a contusion may cause further damage and may lead to Myositis Ossificans (bone growth within the muscle).
Deep Vein Thrombosis
A thrombus (blood clot) can form in a vein and be dislodged during the massage. When this occurs in one of the deeper veins in the thigh/lower limbs, the condition is known as deep vein thrombosis.
Because the veins get larger as they travel toward the heart, the clot can pass through the chambers of the heart and into the pulmonary circulation. The vessels become smaller as they divide and enter the lung and the clot may eventually block the vessels and occlude an area of the lung. If the clot is big enough, it may block the circulation to a major part of the lung (pulmonary embolism) which can lead to death in minutes.
Diabetes
The stimulating effect of massage on the circulation sometimes seems to have the same effect as exercise on the diabetics’ blood sugar levels.
Clients should be made aware of this, possibly so that their medication and/or diet can be altered accordingly.
Diabetes can also affect the nerves and reduce a person’s sensitivity to pressure. Therefore with an impaired pain response, feedback mechanisms may be ineffective and great care should be taken.
Hemophilia (bleeding disorders)
Hemophilia is a hereditary disease that prevents the ability of the blood to clot. There are several different types and severity levels of the disease, with males being primarily affected.
Many people also take medication that thins the blood and predisposes them to bleeding.
Anything that causes trauma to the tissues should be avoided.
High Fever
Fever indicates infection, and massage can be taxing on a weakened body. It can also spread the infection and make it feel worse. There is also the possibility that the therapist could get sick, if the fever is caused by something contagious, like a cold/flu.
Melanoma
Becoming more common, probably due to over exposure of the skin to the sun. It appears first as a change in pigmentation of the skin and looks like a large freckle. There is an increase in concern if there is an increase in size or a change of shape or bleeding, itching or tingling.
