Safety and Massage Therapy - What to Know About if You Can Receive a Massage Massage is often considered a universal therapy. It can relieve stress, promote healing, and promote better sleep. Massage pairs well with physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic and other therapies and research has shown that massage can be a beneficial part of treatment for many conditions. However, when you have a limiting medical condition, it's only natural to wonder if it's safe to get a massage. From injury recovery to chronic illness, there are situations where you should carefully consider before booking a massage. When is it safe to receive a massage? When can you ensure your safety by talking to your massage therapist? At The Wellness Hub here in Jacksonville, Florida we are here to help you answer these important questions with a clear understanding of safety and massage. Here's how you can know if you can receive a massage in your current condition. Safety and Massage Massage is a gentle and safe experience, but there are a few conditions that might be exacerbated by the soft tissue manipulation of a massage. This is why it's important to consider your medical status, your doctor's advice, and to work with your massage therapist to ensure your safety with every massage. Medical conditions that should cause you to proceed with caution include:
None of these conditions necessarily prevent you from getting a massage, but it will be necessary to consult with both your doctor and massage therapist before booking your next massage therapy. Recent Injuries Massage can help promote healing for soft tissue injuries, but open wounds or severe damage may not benefit from a massage until you have completed a certain degree of healing. Massage promotes blood flow through healthy and healing tissue. It can accelerate your rate of healing if the tissue is already aligned to heal. However, the physical manipulation of massage is not advised if you have open or unhealed wounds on the skin or if there is a risk of disrupting the alignment of your healing tissue during the massage. You can get a massage with a recent injury if you inform your massage therapist of the injury. A massage that does not include the injured area can still promote blood flow and your full body healing rate, improving your injury recovery without disturbing the healing tissue. In some cases, with a medical consultation, you can receive a gentle massage of a healing injury focusing only on light touch around tissue that is safe to manipulate. This can promote healing and ease pain. Blood-Related Conditions Massage promotes circulation. There are some medical conditions where manipulating your blood flow could pose a risk. While massage can contribute to your treatment plan, this decision should be guided by collaboration between your doctor and massage therapist. Proceed with caution if you have:
Fever and Recent Infections If you have an illness rooted in an infection or are recovering from an infected injury, massage may not be the best plan. While light massage can help you feel better when you have chills, the way massage promotes blood flow can cause the infection to spread. It's best to wait until the infection has been overcome. Once the infection is gone, you can get a massage to help your body rebuild resources and complete recovery. Pregnancy Complications The American Pregnancy Association assures pregnant woman that massage therapy is safe in all stages of pregnancy. Prenatal Massage has many benefits for pregnant women such as regulation of hormones, reduction of back pain and sciatica and reduction of stress and insomnia. However, if you have complications in your pregnancy, it's best to consult with your midwife or ob-gyn first to make sure that massage is right for you. Proceed with caution if you are pregnant and have:
Consult with Your Doctor If you're not sure whether you should get a massage in your current condition, talk to your doctor. You can book an appointment or schedule a quick tele-health call and ask if it's safe to get a massage. In many situations, you can get a massage as long as certain risk factors are avoided. For example, your massage therapist can give you a full-body massage while avoiding a healing injury. For blood conditions, light touch massage can provide comfort and relaxation without increasing the risk of bruising. Your doctor will let you know whether a massage is safe and which precautions to take. Work With Your Massage Therapist If you get the OK from your doctor, the next step is to consult with your massage therapist. Let them know what your health risks might be and any special considerations you need. A skilled massage therapist can work with you and even become an active part of your care team to provide the benefits of massage therapy while ensuring that you are entirely safe with each session. Find Your Next Massage in Jacksonville at The Wellness Hub Looking for "massage near me" and a therapist who can work with your medical needs? At The Wellness Hub, our therapists are highly skilled and ready to work with the unique needs and preferences of every client. We'll work with your doctor's recommendations so you can enjoy a massage without worrying about your medical situation. Contact us today to book a massage in Jacksonville that meets your unique needs. ---- We are pleased to serve the following Florida communities with massage therapy, chiropractic, organic skincare, acupuncture, red light therapy and more: Jacksonville, Orange Park, Fleming Island, Mandarin, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St Johns, Ponte Vedra and beyond. Call Us (904) 512-7551
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