Why You Shouldn't Have a Massage If You Have These Medical Conditions

Health & Medical Blog

Massage therapy boosts blood circulation, improves range of motion, and even relieves pain. These are only three of the reasons it is useful for managing different injuries, from headaches to tissues strains. However, this doesn't mean that massage therapy is useful for all injuries. In fact, there are cases where massage therapy may just complicate your medical condition. Here are five examples of such cases.

1. Skin Infections

It's not good to massage your body if you have skin infections, such as those caused by bacteria or fungus. The main reason for this is to avoid spreading the infection to other areas of the body. Also, it can be very painful to put pressure on your skin at the height of the infection, especially if the massage irritates the skin further.

2. Bursitis

Bursitis is the inflammation of bursae, the small, fluid-filled sacs that sit between joints to cushion the bones and other tissues from shock. The site of injury is usually swollen, red, and painful. Resting and protecting the area from further trauma is the best way to treat it, which means massaging it is out of the question. Massaging areas affected with bursitis only increases the risk of bleeding and tissue damage.

Thrombosis

This refers to the formation of blood clots within the blood vessels. One of its most dangerous forms is deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which forms in veins deep within your body. DVT is common in legs and thighs. Its symptoms include pain, heavy aches, tenderness, swelling, redness, and warmth around the affected area.

Don't have a massage if you are exhibiting such symptoms or suspect a case of thrombosis without speaking to a doctor first. The massage may dislodge the clot, which becomes dangerous if it travels to sensitive areas of the body, mainly the heart.

Fresh Injuries or Wounds

Lastly, you should also avoid massaging areas of your body with fresh wounds or injuries. Apart from the obvious pain, massaging such fresh injuries may only result in further tissue damage or delayed healing. For example, a fresh burn, cuts, or ruptures shouldn't be massaged until they start healing.

All these examples show the important of getting your massage therapy from qualified massage therapists. A qualified therapist will know when a massage may benefit you and when it may cause further injury. Some of these conditions may not mean that you avoid the massage completely, but rather that the therapist modifies his or her techniques. In some cases, you may benefit (greatly) from massage therapy once you start healing, and only a professional can help you identify the right time to start therapy. 

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29 October 2015