Contra-indications to heated massage

Heat and massage is a wonderful combination, this is because heat helps to relax tissues allowing the therapist to work much deeper, it is soothing and relaxing on the sensory nerve endings making for a more enjoyable treatment and speeds up the blood circulation making one stroke with a heated massage tool up to thirty times more effective than by hands alone. If you’ve ever tried our hot stone massage or Lava shell massage you will be able to testify to the great results that heat with massage can bring!

However, some health conditions are contra-indicated for heat so if you have any of the conditions below you should make us aware of them when you book your treatment.

Heat treatments should be avoided if you have any of the following conditions:

• Pregnancy
• Thrombosis – DVT
• General inflammation
• Epilepsy
• Cancer

Some conditions require ‘local precaution’, these include:

• High blood pressure –heat will be avoided over the stomach area
• Low blood pressure  -care needs to be taken as you may feel more dizzy at the end of the treatment when sitting up.
• Diabetes – heat needs to be avoided over the insulin injection site for one hour and also heat is avoided if your hot/cold receptors can’t give you proper feedback about the heat levels your skin is experiencing.
• Varicose veins
• Rheumatoid arthritis in neck

Care needs to be taken if you have any of the following conditions and those areas will be avoided:

• Sunburn
• Eczema
• Psoriasis
• Open cuts/wounds
• Menopause during hot flush
• Heat sensitivity
• Brusising
• Fybroids

If you are unsure about the suitability of a heated massage, please consult your GP and tell us about your health problem when booking.

Originally published May 30, 2013 11:48am, updated July 2, 2013