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MASSAGE CONTRAINDICATIONS

There are certain conditions that make Massage Therapy an inappropriate choice of treatment for certain individuals. Sometimes a condition is an absolute contraindication but more often than not, a skilled therapist can modify their treatment to accommodate the condition.

When a client completes an intake form, these issues may be addressed.

(Information Source: Susan G. Salvo's Massage Therapy Principles & Practice, 2nd Edition)

Conditions That Require Physician Clearance

Acromegaly
Aneurysm
Atherosclerosis
Burns
Cancer
Cerebrovascular accident
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Congestive heart failure
Coronary artery disease
Hemophilia
Hodgkin's disease
Kidney stones
Leukemia
Myasthenia Gravis
Nephrosis
Peritonitis
Polycyctic kidney disease
Uremia

Conditions With Local Contraindications

Abdominal diastasis (avoid abdomen)
Abnormal lumps (avoid area)
Acne vulgaris (avoid infected area)
Athlete's foot (avoid infected area)
Blister (avoid area)
Bruise (avoid bruised area if less than 72 hours old)
Carpal tunnel syndrome (avoid inflamed area)
Colitis (avoid abdomen)
Cretinism (avoid throat area)
Crohn's disease (avoid abdomen)
Cystitis (avoid abdomen)
Decubitus ulcers (avoid ulcerated area)
Diverticular diseases (avoid abdomen)
Folliculitis (avoid infected area)
Foreign objects embedded in the skin such as glass, pencil lead, and metal (avoid area)
Furuncle/carbuncle (avoid infected area)
Goiter (avoid throat area)
Gouty arthritis (avoid infected area)
Graves' disease (avoid throat region and any enlarged lymph nodes)
Hernia such as hiatal, femoral, inguinal, and umbilical (avoid herniated area)
Herpes simplex (avoid infected area)
Hyperthyroidism (avoid throat area)
Hypothryoidism (avoid throat area)
Irritable bowel syndrome (avoid abdomen)
Local inflammation (avoid inflamed area)
Onychomycosis (avoid infected area)
Open wounds (avoid wounded area)
Paronychia (avoid infected area)
Phlebitis (lightly over affected area)
Polyps (avoid abdomen)
Poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac (unless affected area is widespread, in which case this is an absolute contraindication)
Seborrhea keratosis (avoid infected area)
Shingles (avoid infected area)
Spina bifida (avoid lumbosacral area)
Swollen lymph glands (avoid swollen area)
Thrombophlebitis (lightly over affected area; avoid inner thigh region)
Ulcers (avoid abdomen)
Unhealed burns and abrasions (avoid injured area)
Urinary incontinence (avoid abdomen)
Urinary tract infection (avoid abdomen)
Varicose veins (lightly over affected area)
Wart (avoid infected area)

Conditions With Absolute Contraindications

Appendicitis
Autoimmune disease or acute inflammatory processes during exacerbation period (or flare-up)
Cardiac arrest
Chickenpox
Cholecystitis (during flare-up)
Cirrhosis of the liver (if due to viral agent)
Contact dermatitis (if widespread area is involved)
Diarrhea (if due to infection)
Embolism
Encephalitis
Fever
Gallstones (if during a gallbladder attack)
German measles
Gout (during acute phase)
Hemorrhage
Hepatitis (during acute phase)
Hives (during acute phase)
Hypertension (if not controlled by diet, exercise and/or medication)
Infectious diseases (many are contained in this list)
Influenza
Intestinal obstruction
Jaundice
Laryngitis (if caused by infectious agent)
Lice
Lupus (during a flare-up)
Measles
Meningitis
Migraine headache (during the migraine headache episode)
Mononucleosis
Multiple sclerosis (during flare-up)
Mumps
Pancreatitis (if acute pancreatitis)
Pericarditis
Pharyngitis (if due to infection)
Pleurisy (if caused by infectious agent)
Pneumonia (during acute phase)
Preeclampsia
Psychiatric diagnoses of manic depressive psychosis, schizophrenic psychosis and paranoid conditions
Pulmonary embolism
Pyelonephritis
Rabies
Recent injury (wait 72 hours or until medical clearance is given)
Recent surgery (until medical clearance is given)
Respiratory distress syndrome
Rheumatoid arthritis (during flare-up)
Ringworm
Scabies
Scarlet fever
Scleroderma (during flare-up)
Severe, acute pain
Sickle cell disease (during flare-up)
Tonsillitis
Tuberculosis

Disclaimer: The information provided on this website is for educational purposes only and IS NOT intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek professional medical advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.