Before a treatment with us, it is important that you ensure that you do not suffer from any contraindication to massage therapy.

Contraindications for massage refer to situations in which it is not advisable or where the massage needs to be altered to ensure the massage is not harmful. 

It is important that you fully inform us of your medical history to ensure that we can carry out the massage treatment.

If you are currently undergoing medical treatment for a medical condition, then written consent may be required from your medical practitioner/consultant before massage treatment can commence.

A Contraindication to massage is when you suffer from a condition that has the potential to worsen with massage. We have separated the contraindications in to 3 types. 

1. Absolute Contraindication – without the permission from your Physician, no massage will be carried out.
2. Relative Contraindications – precautionary measures need to be carried out to prevent any potential adverse effects.
3. Absolute Local Contraindications – massage will not be carried out on the local area that is affected. However, massage for the surrounding areas can still be carried out.

ABSOLUTE CONTRAINDICATIONS

• When patient is in shock, is having or just had a stroke, or a heart attack (acute stage)
• Intoxication (drugs and alcohol)
• High Fever
• Within 6 weeks of a Major Surgery 
• Meningitis
• Patients who are experiencing severe unexplained internal pain
• Hemorrhage (the escape of blood from vessels)
• History of blood clots
• Severe Atherosclerosis
• Acute Pneumonia
• Aneurysm
• Pregnant women who are suffering from Eclampsia
• Bleeding disorders or taking blood thinners
• Hemophilia
• Advanced Kidney Failure
• Respiratory Failure.
• Liver Failure
• Appendicitis
• Diabetes Mellitus 1 or 2 with advanced heart or kidney disease or advanced vascular complications
• Sudden onset of severe undiagnosed headache
• Organ Failure
• Pitting Edema
• Chronic active hepatitis
• Infective and non-infective endocarditis/pericarditis
• Lung abscess or lung tumour
• Sepsis (blood infection) or Bacteremia (blood stream infections)
• If a patient has a contagious, airborne, infectious disease such as flu, colds, sore throat due to strep throat, shingles, etc.
• Infectious Skin Conditions 

RELATIVE CONTRAINDICATIONS 

If you suffer from any of the following conditions, we can still provide treatment, however, the massage must be modified to prevent adverse effects. If you suffer with any of the following, please let me know before your treatment. 

• Bell’s Palsy 
• Cancer (may be absolute contraindication – your physician's permission is required)
• Chronic Arthritic Conditions
• Chronic or Long Standing Thrombosis
• Conditions of Spasticity (Cerebral palsy, Hemiplegia, MS, spinal cord injury)
• Conditions of Rigidity such as Parkinsons disease
• Contusion
• Chronic Congestive Heart Failure
• Chronic Kidney Disease
• Diabetes 
• Drug Withdrawal
• Epilepsy
• Fibromyalgia
• Flaccid Paralysis
• Bone Fracture 
• Hypertension and Hypotension
• Inflammatory Arthritides (Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus, gout, pseudo-gout, ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), gonorrhea, tuberculosis, and osteomyelitis)
• Joint Dislocation 
• Kidney Infection / Kidney Stones
• Lymphedema
• Osteoporosis / Osteomalacia
• Patients with Compromised Immune System
• Pregnancy 
• Raynaud’s Disease
• Recent Head injury
• Severe Asthma massage therapy contraindications
• Severe Emphysema 
• Seizure Disorders

ABSOLUTE LOCAL CONTRAINDICATION

If you suffer from any of the following conditions, massage therapy in the local area that is affected is contraindicated. However, massage for the surrounding area can still be carried out.

• Areas of acute inflammation (characterised by hot/swollen areas)
• Acute Flare-Ups of Inflammatory Arthritides (Rheumatoid Arthritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Reiter’s Syndrome)
• Acute Neuritis (inflammation of a peripheral nerve or nerves, usually causing pain and loss of function)
• Artificial blood vessels
• Burns (recent burns)
• Severe Causalgia (severe burning pain in a limb caused by injury to a peripheral nerve)c
• Local Contagious Conditions (note: some locally contagious conditions may be considered absolute contraindications such as chicken pox, impetigo etc.)
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Undiagnosed Lump, Cysts, Moles
• Currently undertaking radiation therapy treatment
• Open Wounds or Sores
• Phlebitis contraindications for massage
• Severe Varicose Veins 
• Thromboangiitis Obliterans (Buerger’s disease)
• Acute Trigeminal Neuralgia
• Venomous Bites or Stings

Please note that these lists are not exhaustive. If you have any medical concerns, please discuss with me before your treatment.