When and Why not to get a massage
By: Jeanette Rupar LMT, BCTMB
Massage can be a most wonderful thing. They feel great and can make a person feel both physically and mentally better. But, there are times when you should probably not get massage. How do you know?? If you aren’t sure, always talk to your therapist… They will let you know if they feel comfortable working with you or have you rescheduled.
There are some general guidelines, however. Call to reschedule your appointment if you are suffering from:
- fever
- Any contagious disease (cold, flu, etc)
- rash
- recent surgery
There are other considerations that may limit a massage, but doesn’t necessarily mean that the massage has to be cancelled. What would limit a massage, you ask?? Things that are at a specific point, and would probably not be comfortable if touched….
- Strained muscles
- sprained ankles
- bruises
- sunburn
- open wounds
- pregnancy
There are also other medical conditions that each therapist may or may not feel comfortable working with. Things like:
- cancer diagnosis
- blood issues: thin blood or if you have issues with clotting
- osteoporosis
What your massage therapist is comfortable with is very personal to them. There are things that require extra knowledge before the therapist can work with a specific thing. Yes, there are specialties within the massage therapy field. Some therapists are comfortable working with pregnant women, while others specialize in Oncology Massage for those people who are living with a cancer diagnosis. What this means is that each thing has considerations to take into account for when the therapist is working on them. If you have osteoporosis, you probably don’t want your therapist to do very hard pressure so that your bones don’t break.
Talk to your massage therapist. They may have you talk to your doctor to get a script, especially if you are under their care for a specific thing. We want to make sure that everyone is on the same page. We do not want to cause more harm than may already be there.
Though we can not diagnose (and please don’t ask them to) or prescribe medicine, we are a great part of the healthcare team and can be beneficial to overall health.