| p>Massage therapy is a wonderful and beneficial | | | | Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Congestive Heart |
| form of holistic health care. Massage can provide | | | | Failure, Coronary Artery Disease, Hemophelia, |
| stress relief, muscle tension relief, improve circulation, | | | | Hodgkin's Disease, Kidney Stones, Leukemia, |
| and the list goes on. But massage can be detrimental | | | | Myasthenia Gravis, Nephrosis, Peritonitis, Polycystic |
| to your health if you have certain physical conditions, | | | | Kidney Disease, and Uremia. |
| illnesses, or disease. You can also put your therapist | | | | Absolute Contraindications |
| at risk of contracting certain illness or disease if you | | | | Absolute contraindications are conditions where you |
| are in a contagious state of health. | | | | cannot receive a massage. Giving a massage to |
| The term "massage contraindication" means you are | | | | someone who has an absolute contraindication can |
| not able to receive massage, or the massage may | | | | result in serious health risks for the client and/or the |
| be limited to certain areas of your body. When you | | | | therapist. Some absolute contraindications can even |
| are contraindicated for a massage it is for your | | | | cause death to the client. |
| health and safety as well as the massage therapists. | | | | Not all absolute contraindications are permanent; |
| Not all contraindications mean that you will never be | | | | meaning you may have a condition that, once it |
| able to have a massage. There are two types of | | | | clears, you can receive a massage. These conditions |
| contraindications: local contraindications and absolute | | | | are typically an illness such as a viral infection. Some |
| contraindications. | | | | conditions are permanent and unfortunately if you |
| Local Contraindications | | | | have one, you will not be able to receive massage. In |
| Local contraindications are conditions involving a | | | | either case, as long as the condition is in an acute |
| pathology related illness/disease or an acute injury. | | | | stage, you will be denied massage therapy. |
| These conditions mean caution must be exercised | | | | The following is a list of common, but temporary, |
| and the massage must be adapted to the condition. | | | | absolute contraindications for massage: Chickenpox, |
| This is to ensure the safety of both the client and | | | | Contact Dermatitis (if wide spread), diarrhea (if due |
| the therapist. For the client, the massage must be | | | | to infection), fever, German Measles, Gout (during |
| adjusted as to ensure it will not spread the condition, | | | | acute phase), Hepatitis, Hives, High Blood Pressure |
| or further injure the client. For the therapist, it is to | | | | (unless controlled by medication, diet or exercise) |
| ensure the therapist does not contract the disease. | | | | Influenza (the flu), lice, Lupus (during a flare up), |
| If you have what is determined to be a local | | | | measles, Mononucleosis (mono), Mumps, Pneumonia, |
| contraindication your therapist may require a doctor's | | | | Ringworm, recent injuries or surgeries, Scabies, and |
| release before he will agree to provide you with a | | | | Tonsillitis. This list is not definitive, but a list of the |
| massage. While some local contraindications only | | | | more common conditions that are absolute |
| require that you and your therapist discuss the | | | | contraindications. These are all temporary conditions |
| condition and tailor the massage accordingly. In either | | | | that once they have run their course, you can |
| case, it is the therapist that will make the final | | | | receive a massage. |
| decision as to whether or not you will be able to | | | | The following conditions are a permanent condition |
| receive the massage. This is done to protect your | | | | that will prevent you from receiving a massage. |
| health and safety as well as the massage therapist. | | | | These are serious conditions and if you receive a |
| A massage may be adjusted for a local | | | | massage it can cause further health related problems |
| contraindication in several ways. It can mean an area | | | | or even death. Your massage therapist must be |
| is to be avoided, such a the lower leg of a recently | | | | informed of these conditions. This is one of the |
| sprained ankle. It can require that the pressure be | | | | reasons you are required fill out a health history form |
| adjusted during the massage. The position in which | | | | when you enter a professional massage therapists |
| the client is lying the massage table is adjusted, such | | | | office. |
| as using a side lying position for pregnant women. It | | | | Some common absolute permanent contraindications |
| can also mean the time allowed for the massage be | | | | (this is not a definitive list): Blood Clots, Cirrhosis of |
| adjusted. | | | | the liver, Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), Embolism, |
| Some of the more common local contraindications | | | | Hypertension (unless controlled by medication, diet or |
| include, but are not limited to: Abnormal lumps, Ance | | | | exercise), Intestinal obstruction, Kidney failure, |
| Vulgaris, athlete's foot, blisters, bruises, Carpal Tunnel | | | | Lymphangitis, Myocarditis, Pericarditis, Pulmonary |
| Syndrome, Colitis, Crohn's Disease, Cystitis (Baker's | | | | Embolism, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome |
| and sebaceous), Decubitus Ulcers, Gouty Arthritis, | | | | (SARS), Syncope (fainting), and Tuberculosis. |
| Graves' Disease, hernia, Hyper and Hypothyroidism, | | | | While massage has many benefits certain conditions |
| infectious diseases, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, local | | | | warrant caution. If you have a condition that has not |
| inflammation, open wounds, Phlebitis, poison ivy - oak | | | | been listed here, or you are unclear about whether |
| - sumac, Shingles, swollen lymph glands, ulcers, | | | | you can receive massage, talk to your massage |
| unhealed burns (sunburn if not widespread), Varicose | | | | therapist and you family doctor. They will both be |
| Veins, and warts. | | | | happy to discuss this with you. Remember, if you are |
| The following conditions will require a medical doctors | | | | turned down for a massage because of a condition |
| clearance: Acromegaly, Aneurysm, Atherosclerosis, | | | | you have, it is because the massage therapist has |
| Burns, Cancer, Cerebrovascular accident, Chronic | | | | your best health at interest. |