Massage Contraindications

Massage is perceived as the most unharmful medical practice and it one of the most risk free ones. However, there are situations when we should not give a massage or ask a physician opinion before doing it. The massage is contraindicated in all the following situations:
Fever, Inflammation, Infectious diseases, Hernia, Osteoporosis, Varicose veins, broken bones, Skin problems, Cancer, epilepsy, HIV infection, Pregnancy - no deep work. For other conditions a doctor should be consulted before giving a massage. These are: diabetes, asthma, recent surgery, edema. For a more complete list consult the Contraindications page.

• The first and foremost rule here is, "Do no harm." If you're not sure about a particular condition, do not give the massage.

Things NOT allowed when massaging:

• Neck pulling: Do not pull the head, like attempting to lengthen the neck, it is very dangerous.
• Neck twisting: No sudden movements! (You can do though some light stretching of the neck; very gentle and slow turnings of the neck are good.)
• Neck pulling and twisting together: Never ever, for any reason, pull and twist the neck at the same time. This is extremely dangerous.
• Bone cracking: Never ever try to do a chiropractic-type adjustment if you haven't been trained as a chiropractor. Do not touch the spine. You can work though the muscles along the spine and this is extremely pleasurable. Don't press directly on bones
• Over-extension: Don't try to overstretch any articulation. Any articulation has its normal movement range; do not go over this limit. You need to use extreme caution when you do the stretching especially on the more sensitive areas as neck, arms, and hands.

Danger zones

These are hyper-sensitive areas on the body and they contain more nerves and blood supply.

• Front of the neck: It is obvious why; you aren’t trying to choke your patient. It's a good idea to avoid at all this area.
• Side of the neck: Not as sensitive as the front of the neck, but there is not a major benefit from a classic massage of this area so avoid it.
• The "ear notch": The notch behind the jawbone and beneath the ear it's an extremely sensitive area. Do not shove a finger into this notch.
• The eyeball: Do not touch the person's eyes. A light effleurage on the eye lids would be acceptable as it reduces the tension and it soothes the migraines.
• The armpit: Very sensitive area, with lots of nerves, arteries, and lymph glands.
• The upper inner arm: Just down from the armpit, along the inside of the upper arm, is a sensitive, nerve-filled area. Compressing here too firmly is very unpleasant.
• The ulnar notch of the elbow: Known as the "funny bone," it’s a spot which, if you touch it too hard creates an extreme discomfort
• The abdomen: Be gentle around the superior portion of the abdomen along the ribs, where you find the liver, gall bladder, and spleen. You can however do some maneuvers if you are very careful.
• The lower back: Just below the ribs, both sides of the spine. Those are the kidneys. Don't press too hard or pound. Do not do tapotement on the kidneys.
• The groin: It’s the part where the leg meets the body. This part contains important blood vessels, lymph nodes and nerves. Do not attempt any massage.
• Popliteal area (back of the knee): Always treat this place cautiously. It's very sensitive to pressure.