Massage and acupressure techniques have been around for centuries, and are used for a variety of reasons, ranging from relaxation to alternative health care. While these practices can have beneficial effects on stress, muscle soreness and circulation, they can also present risks, especially if your therapist is unaware of medical conditions that you have. However, the risks are low when massage and acupressure are performed by a qualified professional.
Mild Risks
A common side-effect of massage or acupressure is mild damage to the skin and muscle tissue. These effects include bruises, inflammation and soreness. Bruises develop if you have sensitive skin or if the practitioner places too much pressure on one location, causing the blood vessels to rupture underneath the skin. Inflammation can occur if muscle tissue is damages as part of your body's natural healing process. Soreness typically accompanies bruises, swelling or other damage to the muscle.
Serious Risks
In rare cases, serious damage can occur from Oriental massage and acupressure, but mostly only with deeper tissue massage. This damage can include broken bones -- mainly in those with pre-existing bone conditions resulting in low mineral density -- as well as nerve damage or internal bleeding, depending on where the pressure is placed and how much pressure is placed on the skin tissue. Another more common serious risk is a severe allergic reaction to either the massage lubricant or other additions to the experience, such as aromatherapy.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy carries its own set of risks when it comes to massage. If you are pregnant, talk to your doctor first before booking an Oriental massage or acupressure treatment. This is especially true if you have a high-risk pregnancy, pre-eclampsia, pregnancy-induced hypertension, have severe swelling, severe headaches or have had a previous pre-term labor, suggests the American Pregnancy Association. You should also talk to your doctor during your first trimester because of a possible increased risk for miscarriage with massage, although more research is needed to determine to what extent this risk exists.
Conditions
Along with pregnancy, other conditions may also increase risks with most types of massage as well as acupressure. These conditions include cancer, blood conditions such as blood clots or taking blood thinning medications, rheumatoid arthritis, burns, bone fractures, contagious rashes, open wounds and osteoporosis. If you have a condition not listed here, and you are unsure how massage therapy or acupressure may affect you, talk to your doctor before booking a therapy session.
Member Comments