Massage Lane

MASSAGE CONTRAINDICATIONS

Find a Therapist
CEU Providers
Homestudy CEs
Add Your Listing
About Massage Therapy
Types of Massage
Spas, Tours & Travel
Natural Healing
Books & Products
Massage Schools
The Bridge Builder
Home Page
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

Massage Lane * a Division of The Michaels Group
2408 Becker St. * New Braunfels, TX 78130
830-214-0827 * Email Us!

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.

Hosting by The Michaels Group (formerly Cruising America)
Copyright 1997-2008 - All rights reserved.