Pathologies for Massage Contraindications
Health Conditions that Massage is not Allowed
Any contagious condition or where the client could possibly have digesting or skin conditions that could flare up in session.
Some of those health conditions for which massage is contraindicated until resolved are:
- arrhythmia
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- cholecystitis
- Diverticulitis
- Encephalitis
- Hepatitis
- Impetigo
- Influenza
- Lice
- Meningitis
- Myocardial Infarction
- Pharyngitis
- Pneumonia
- Pyelonephritis
- Renal Failure
- Scabies
- Sinusitis
- Strep throat
Health Conditions that require a doctor's note of approval for massage
- aneurysm
- Breast Cancer
- Hodgkin's Lymphoma
- Leukemia
- Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
- Parkinson's Disease
- Allergy
- Gastritis
- Malignant Melanoma
- Urticaria
- High Risk Pregnancy
Health Conditions that will have a local contraindication to avoid or modify the massage
Any health condition that is inflamed and could get more inflamed, is still in acute phase of healing, could be damaging if more pressure is applied that could exacerbate the problem, and any of the following:
- Acne
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Athlete's Foot
- Basal Cell Carcinoma
- Boil
- Burns
- Bursitis
- Cellulitis
- De Quervain's Tenosynovitis
- Decubitus Ulcer
- Deep Vein Thrombosis
- Dermatitis (eczema)
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Dislocation
- Fracture
- Goiter
- Golfer's Elbow
- Gout
- Graves' Disease
- Herniated Disc
- Herpes Simplex
- Onychomycosis
- Osgood-Schlatter Disease
- Osteoarthritis
- phlebitis
- pregnancy
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Ringworm
- Sciatica
- Sebaceous Cyst
- Sprain
- Strain
- Tendonitis
- Tennis Elbow
- Tenosynovitis
- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
- Trigeminal Neuralgia
- Varicose Veins
- Wart
- Wounds
General Health conditions that massage therapy is beneficial for improving body, mind, and spirit
- Acromegaly
- Addison's Disease
- Alzheimer's Disease
- anemia
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Anorexia Nervosa
- Anxiety Disorders
- Apnea
- Bell's Palsy
- Bulimia
- Bunion
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Crohn's Disease
- Cushing's Disease
- Cystitis
- Dementia
- Depression
- Diverticulosis
- Emphysema
- Fibromyalgia
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- Hernia
- hypertension
- Hyperthyroidism
- Kyphosis
- Lordosis
- Lupus Erythematosus
- Lymphedema
- Migraine Headache
- Osteoporosis
- Pitting Edema
- Psoriasis
- Raynaud's Syndrome
- Scoliosis
- Tempromandibular Joint Dysfunction
- Urethritis
- Vertigo
- Adhesive Capsulitis
- arteriosclerosis/atherosclerosis
- Heart murmur
- Insomnia
- Kidney Stones
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma
- Torticollis
Learn More about these Pathologies
If you would like more information about these specific pathologies as they relate to massage therapy services, please download the Excel file below. It will explain each pathology, describe symptoms and common medical treatments for each pathology, as well as explain why massage is or isn't contraindicated.