3 Reasons to Consult Your Doctor Before Booking a Massage

Massage therapy is growing more accepted as a complementary service to medical treatment plans every year. Massage therapy is good for relaxation, promoting circulation and many other benefits. But some side effects that are beneficial to one person could be dangerous to another.

 Being a responsible Massage therapist means sometimes I must refuse service and wait for the client to come back with a doctor’s clearance note. You already know not to get a massage with a cold, flu, fever, or injury but there are also long-term conditions that aren’t safe.

Consult your doctor before booking your massage if you have any of these common long-term conditions

1.  History of cardiovascular conditions

If you have had a recent heart attack, stroke, or blood clot you should not be getting a massage at all. Medication common for cardiovascular conditions like warfarin or other blood thinners are also contraindicated.

Massage therapy is known for improving blood circulation and decreasing blood pressure. Those reactions are normally desired but for certain heart conditions it could be dangerous.

With some conditions the doctor will put restrictions on the time limit and type of massage received. If you are cleared for a massage, make sure to tell your therapist if you start experiencing dizziness or drowsiness as those could be signs something is wrong.

2. Medications

As I mentioned in the previous section, not all medications work well with massage therapy. Here are some medications I recommend asking your doctor about before getting a massage.

Medications that lower your blood pressure or cause dizziness like muscle relaxers, narcotic pain relievers, diuretics, beta blockers, etc. Other medications might cause your skin to be more easily bruised and only certain types of massages would be safe. Since I’m not a medical professional, I can’t know for sure if a massage is safe with your medication list. Consult your doctor first to make sure you have a safe and beneficial experience.

3. Cancer

I receive a lot of messages from well intentioned family and friends wanting to book a massage for a person going through chemo or radiation. It is very hard to watch someone you love be in that amount of pain.

Massage therapy can be immensely helpful for reducing stress, fatigue, and other side of effects of harsh medical treatments, but it is important to talk to your oncologist first. Massage might not be safe for where you are in your treatment plan or for what is currently happening in your body.  Your oncologist might even have a referral for a body worker that is highly trained in oncology massage techniques.

Our bodies are complex, and this was an extraordinarily short list of conditions to consult your doctor about. Don’t be offended if you try book a massage and your therapist says no. Massage therapists are always doing our best to keep are clients safe. Help us by being honest about your medical history, consulting your doctor, and letting us know if anything changes.