Massages are great. They are a wonderful way to reduce stress, ease tension, and lessen the pain associated with tense and stiff muscles. However, many people are unaware that there are certain conditions that make receiving a massage a bad idea. Since massage is powerfully effective at increasing and stimulating circulation, it can have a negative effect on certain health conditions. You should always consult with your health care provider before deciding whether or not to have a massage.



The first condition that would prevent you from receiving a massage is if you have a fever. You may think that a massage may relax you and help your body heal quicker, however the opposite is true. When you have a fever, a massage will cause your Immune System to work double time. This will actually make you feel ill as your body tries to fight the fever as well as remove toxins from other areas of your body. It is best to let your body rest and fight the fever and save a massage for when you are in optimum health. The same holds true if you are suffering from the common cold or flu symptoms.

Sports Massage is a great remedy for preventing strains, sprains, and other sports related injuries. Likewise, Sports Massage can help an athlete increase his or her performance by increasing flexibility and stretching tendons and ligaments. However, you should never attempt to use massage to treat a serious injury. If you have broken or fractured bones, you should not try to treat them with massage. In the same manner, sprains may become more severe with the use of massage so always use Sports Massage when you are in good health and never try to treat a serious injury with massage. You should always follow the advice and recommendation of your health care provider when determining whether or not to use massage.

Since massage involves skin-to-skin contact, you should never have a massage if you have any type of skin lesions, sores, open wounds, or if you have any type of contagious disease or condition. Always practice safety first and wait for any contagious conditions to heal completely before scheduling a massage.

The best rule of thumb is to use common sense, and if in doubt then ask your physician or health care provider. You may be surprised to discover that your doctor will not recommend therapeutic massage for a number of conditions due to the fact that the massage may trigger negative or adverse reactions. When you meet with your massage therapist, you will fill out a questionnaire that will address all of your health concerns and conditions. It is important to fill out these questions to the best of your ability and let the massage therapist know if you are taking any prescription medications. Your health should be handled from a holistic point of view. This means that your health care provider and your massage therapist should work harmoniously to find the best methods for your specific conditions.