Bodywork Contraindications

When To Avoid Getting A Massage

Massage is a relatively low risk form of therapy.  However, there are certain conditions which are contraindicated for  massage therapy.

Please help us keep our clinic and other clients healthy. Avoid visiting when you have symptoms of a communicable disease. Including but not limited to:

• • Fever
  • Chills
  • Sore throat
  • Cough
  • Runny Nose
  • Nausea/vomiting

• Please call if you have questions on whether or not you should re-schedule your appointment. 307-365-0737

Massage Contraindications That Require A 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
  • Polycystic kidney disease
  • Uremia

Massage Contraindications  Local (Therapist Must Avoid The Area)

• Abdominal diastasis
• Abnormal lumps
• Acne vulgaris
• Athlete’s foot
• Blister
• Bruise
• Carpal tunnel syndrome (if inflamed)
• Colitis
• Cretinism
• Crohn’s disease
• Cystitis
• Decubitus ulcers
• Diverticular diseases
• Folliculitis
• Foreign objects embedded in the skin such as glass, pencil lead and metal
• Furuncle/carbuncle
• Goiter
• Gouty arthritis
• Graves disease
• Hernia such as hiatal, femoral, inguinal and umbilical
• Herpes simplex
• Hyperthyroidism
• Hypothyrodism
• Impetigo
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Local inflammation
• Onychomycosis
• Open wounds
• Paronychia
• Phlebitis
• Polyps
• Poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac (unless affected area is widespread,     in which case it is an absolute contraindication)
• Seborrhea keratosis
• Shingles
• Spina bifida
• Swollen lymph glands
• Thrombophlebitis
• Ulcers
• Unhealed burns and wounds
• Urinary incontinence
• Urinary tract infection
• Varicose veins
• Wart

Massage Contraindications Absolute (Under No Circumstance Is Massage Advised)

• Appendicitis
• Autoimmune diseases (during flare up)
• Cardiac arrest
• Chickenpox
• Cholecystitis (during flare up)
• Cirrhosis of the liver (if due to viral agent)
• Contact dermatitis
• Diarrhea (if due to infection)
• Embolism
• Encephalitis
• Fever
• Gallstones (during attack)
• German measles
• Gout (acute phase)
• Hemorrhage
• Hepatitis
• Hives
• Hypertension (if not controlled by diet, exercise, and/or medication)
• Infectious diseases
• Influenza
• Intestinal obstruction
• Jaundice
• Lice
• Lupus (during flare up)
• Measles
• Meningitis
• Migraine headache (during episode)
• Mononucleosis
• Multiple sclerosis
• Mumps
• Pancreatitis
• Pericarditis
• Pharyngitis (due to infection)
• Pleurisy (if caused by infectious agent)
• Pneumonia
• Preeclampsia
• Psychiatric diagnoses of manic depressive psychosis, schizophrenic psychosis, and paranoid conditions
• Pulmonary embolism
• Pyelonephritis
• Rabies
• Recent injury
• Recent surgery
• Respiratory distress syndrome
• Under the influence of drugs or alcohol

There may be other conditions not mentioned in this list which massage therapy is contraindicated.

When in doubt, DON’T.  If you suffer from a particular illness and are unsure if it's safe for you to receive  massage therapy, please check with your medical doctor before scheduling an appointment.