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What about colds and flu? Massage can potentially make you sicker by helping the virus spread. Once you are past the acute stage, and just have a few lingering symptoms, massage is OK, though you may feel a little worse for a day or so afterward. And I hope it’s obvious that if you have anything contagious, you shouldn’t be getting a massage. Be considerate of your massage therapist! We are particularly concerned about contagious skin conditions. Also be aware that research about the effects of massage on some medical conditions is lacking, and sometimes massage therapists are just being safe by not doing massage. Afterall, we don’t want to hurt you. Ten years ago, cancer was considered an absolute contraindication for massage, but recent research has shown that carefully applied massage can sometimes be beneficial. Many cancer treatment programs now even include massage. The important thing is to make sure you give your massage therapist an accurate and complete health history so that he/she can make an informed decision about whether massage is appropriate for you. If you are interested in more information on massage contraindications and the effects of massage on the body, see Ruth Werner’s A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology.
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