Can a massage be bad for you? Have you ever thought, is there a time I shouldn’t get a massage?

While massage has many benefits, some caution needs to be taken since there can be certain medical issues involved with giving a massage.

First, vigorous massage strokes should be avoided when working with people who have a bleeding disorder or those who may be taking a blood thinner.

Second, a massage shouldn’t be done in any area of the body where there may be blood clots, fractures, open or healing wounds, skin infections, and healing from a recent surgery.

Third, although massage therapy is generally safe for cancer patients, it’s best to have the patient consult with their oncologist prior to receiving a massage.

And fourth, pregnant women should also consult their healthcare provider prior to using massage therapy and then should seek a therapist who is specially trained in massage therapy during pregnancy.

Contraindication in a massage is a reason why a massage therapist would not give a massage to a client because it may cause harm in some way. Contraindication in massage can be broken down into two categories.

Local contraindication is when a massage can’t be performed over a certain area. Oftentimes a massage can be done to the rest of the body, but not to the area that is contraindicated. I’ve listed some conditions:

• Varicose veins
• Lumps or bumps that are undiagnosed, or haven’t been cleared by a medical profession
• Severe bruising
• Deep or open cuts
• Frostbite
• Sunburn
• Areas of recent local surgery

Total contraindication is when a massage shouldn’t be performed under any circumstance. For those with certain medical conditions, massage should be entirely avoided. Some examples of total contraindications include:

• Having significant fever
• Contagious diseases such as the cold or the flu
• Recent operations or acute injuries
• Severe, unstable hypertension
• Local contagious or irritable skin conditions