One of the key benefits of massage therapy is its versatility and use for a number of different people and needs. And while various massage techniques can be applied to numerous different areas, there are a few rare occasions where massage therapists actually don't recommend getting a massage.
At Body Balance Massage and Float, we're proud to offer a huge range of different massage therapy techniques, from Swedish massage and deep tissue massage to cupping therapy, prenatal massage and many others. While these situations are quite rare, there are just a few cases where we may recommend against massage for patients for the sake of their health and/or safety. Here's a quick rundown of these conditions, plus a word from our pros on how to approach these and related situations.
If you have an active infection taking place in the area where you're considering massage, we likely won't be able to work with you. While we take precautions against the spread of germs and disease at our center, usually by using disposable tables and gloves and wearing facemasks during treatment, there's always a low risk that you could get an infection from massage therapy if you were to get it elsewhere.
Not only is there a threat to our therapists here, there's major risk that massage could cause the infection to spread and worsen, causing serious health problems. If you're sick and not sure if massage is safe for your condition, check with your doctor first.
Assuming all goes well, you can usually enjoy massage therapy about six weeks after surgery to give the body time to recover and heal after an operation. Even with this timeframe in mind, though, check with your doctor before getting a massage -- they know you and your condition best, after all.
Certain skin conditions, such as dermographism (a phenomenon where your skin reacts to pressure by intensely itching and/or burning) can be worsened by massage. At Body Balance Massage and Float, we typically recommend against the use of any firm massages on areas afflicted with eczema or psoriasis, as no one wants to make their condition worse.
If you're battling cancer in a specific area you were considering a massage for, there may be cases where this isn't possible. This is one area where getting specific advice from both a massage therapist and your primary cancer doctor is highly recommended -- massage in some cases may increase the cancer spread risk, but in other cases could be completely safe.
When in doubt, always feel free to talk with your massage therapist about what is and isn't possible when it comes to treating a condition you're currently suffering from -- we want you to get the most out of our services, not worry!
For more on certain situations in which you may opt against massage for your own safety, or to learn about any of our massage or float therapy programs, speak to the staff at Body Balance Massage and Float today.