Contraindications
- Fever
- Buerger disease – rare medical condition, where blood vessels in the limbs become blocked and blood clots may form. As disease progresses, the lack of blood flow leads to damage or destruction of skin tissue. This condition appears to be tightly connected to consumption of tobacco
- Bleeding or its possibility
- Infectious diseases
- Acute inflammation
- Any skin conditions with cysts or blisters
- Eczema and psoriasis
- Broken skin
- Syringomyelia – a neurological condition in which a fluid-filled cyst (syrinx) appears within the spinal cord
- Brittle bone disease
- Arterial aneurysm
- Cancer under active treatment
- Advanced atherosclerosis
- Ulceration of skin and any condition with oozing pus
- First couple of weeks after bone fracture
- Bone infection (osteomyelitis)
- Regular intake of aspirin or any other blood thinners
- New tattoos on the body, it is strongly advised to wait a month before getting a massage.
Side Effects
Any side effects of the massage should typically be short-lived. These potential side effects may include:
- Lingering discomfort or bruising after a deep tissue massage
- Aggravation of old injuries. To prevent this, it is essential to communicate any health conditions or past injuries to the therapist
- Muscle aches or fatigue
- Erythema (redness of the skin)
- Headaches and nausea (rare occurrences)
- Feelings of sleepiness
- Mild inflammation
- Dizziness
- Folliculitis, where hair follicles become irritated due to treatment. It is advisable to shave the area before treatment
- Increased functioning of smooth muscles, such as bladder and bowel.