It really depends on what caused the edema in the first place. By contraindication, we mean that it is a caution sign, and that more detailed questioning needs to take place so that we can adjust our techniques accordingly.
For example, pitting edema could signify deep vein thrombosis, which is a complete local contraindication and only feather light strokes should be used in this area to avoid causing an embolism. Simple, non-pitting edema may be a sign of inflammation, and we need to investigate the cause of the injury, draining proximal to the edema is beneficial, but avoid circulatory work distal to the injury. The swelling creates a blockade and we want to avoid damaging blood vessels by forcing blood through. We also want to avoid complicating the injury.
Lymph edema can be reduced by manual lymph drainage proximal to the site, but requires advanced education.
When in doubt, refer them out to a more experienced therapist, or get some HIPPA paperwork together and consult their primary care doctor.
It is a local contraindication because it is contagious.
Massage can make it worse, and the therapist can get infected as well. So it's a local contraindication, which means the therapist can massage other parts of the body, but not where it is infected.
A facial massage may not give rise to a contraindication in itself. The client may have a preexisting condition that could be aggravated by massage to the face. One example is trigeminal neuralgia.
It is not a contraindication for massage at all. It is a contraindication for being in a supine, and even a prone, position. If the massage therapist is trained properly, they will know how to do a sidelying position massage that will be safe. Again, it is not the massage that is contraindicated, but the position that most people have on the massage table. Sidelying resolves the issues with supine hypotensive syndrome so there should be no problem for you to receive a massage, just lie on your side, or even better, just on your left side.
When it is in an acute stage or inflammation
Allergies are not a contraindication of massage. Inform your therapist of any allergy so they do not use lubrication containing the allergen.
sunburn in a contraindication in massage treatment and treatment shouldnt be carried out until the sunburn has healed and skin exfoliated
Kidney stones are not an absolute contraindication for massage, but caution is advised. If a person is experiencing severe pain or an active kidney stone attack, massage should be avoided. However, gentle massage may be beneficial for relaxation and stress relief in individuals who are not in acute pain. It's essential to consult with a healthcare provider before proceeding with massage therapy in such cases.
It isn't, however some types of massage may be. Inform your Therapist and they can adjust their treatment accordingly
The only reason it may be a contraindication is because it is recent. After it has had a chance to heal, massage is actually indicated for scars.
Haemophilia is a contraindication to massage because it is a bleeding disorder that impairs the body's ability to form blood clots. Massage can potentially cause bruising or internal bleeding due to the manipulation of soft tissues, which could worsen the condition and lead to serious complications. Additionally, individuals with haemophilia may have weakened blood vessels, making them more susceptible to injury during massage. Therefore, it is crucial to avoid massage therapy in individuals with this condition.
The main concern is that it is an acute stage and that usually is considered a contraindication because the body is using most of its resources to combat the infection. Massage would only add to the overload of resources at work and task the body systems even more. It is best to let the acute phase resolve to a sub-acute level, then massage can be beneficial in the healing phase.