Swedish Massage Contraindications
| Inflammatory Conditions | -heat, redness, swelling, pain -sprains, strains, bursitis, synovitis, tenosynovitis, arthritis |
could aggravate and worsen condition | RICE, Sub-acute- general massage above area chronic inflammation- direct massage may be ok. |
| Varicose Veins | -veins that are enlarged and twisted due to damaged valves -can be painful |
-direct pressure can cause further damage -deep draining stokes below varicosity is not advised as it may put more pressure on the valve |
-spider veins ok -work around vein or move it out of the way -nutritional supplementation with Vit C and bioflavinoids recommended |
| blood Clots | -inflammation of vein -warmth, redness, -found in elderly or after trauma -may be discolored (reddish cyanotic hue) |
-massage could dislodge and move clot possibly causing a heart attack or stroke | Wait for medical clearance; blood thinner medications may be necessary |
| Cardiac conditions | -severe high blood pressure that is unstable -arteriosclerosis |
-heart/body may not tolerate increase in circulation | -work only when medicated or controlled by diet and stress reduction methods |
| Hemophilia | – inability of the blood to coagulate -abnormal tendency to bleed -may cause swelling in joints |
-usually medicated with cumaden or other blood thinners -deep pressure may bruise or cause tissue damage |
-light pressure until you find out what the client can tolerate |
| Diabetes | -advanced cases: loss of feeling and circulation in extremities -pitted edema: pressing into tissue leaving indentation that stays |
may cause tissue damage | -circulatory strokes may still be beneficial: proceed with caution |
| Pregnancy | -reduced circulation in legs -possible blood clots due to hormonal changes |
-miscarriage |
Use Common Sense Work with physician or midwife. |
| Local or systemic infections | -fever -inflamed lymph nodes -some examples: chicken pox, measles, influenza, scarlet fever, nephritis, hepatitis |
-massage may be too stressful on the body and the immune system | -energy work -physicians approval needed |
| Infectious Skin Diseases | -bacterial infections (staph, impetigo, tuberculosis) -viral infections (herpes simplex and zoster, warts, chicken pox, -parasites (scabies, fleas, lice, ticks) -Fungal Infections (athletes foot, ringworm, yeast infections) |
-may spread disease to yourself and other clients | -physician approval |