Thai massage contraindications

Thai massage is known as one of the most energy-boosting types of massage, where the receiver’s muscles and joints are vigorously squeezed and stretched by a massage therapist to disperse blood and lymph along the energetic pathways. It has a much more invigorating effect than say, the most common massage practice in the West, Swedish massage, which mainly involves gentle strokes to provide stress relief and relaxation.

Blood and lymphatic vessels are two systems that form extensive networks throughout the body to continuously deliver oxygen and nutrients to tissues and organs and remove waste products, including carbon dioxide, from them. Stimulating blood and lymph circulation is reputed to be quite useful in a number of health conditions.

However, one man’s medicine is another man’s poison. In some indications, massage boosting blood and lymph circulation can cause serious harm to health. Truth be told, there are many subtleties and nuances in this matter: in some cases, the masseur should simply avoid massaging certain parts of the body, while in others it is enough just to reduce the overall pressure and intensity of Thai massage.

Though then it will no longer be traditional Thai massage, will it?

I. When full-body Thai massage is a complete (or almost) no-no

There are some conditions in which the blood and lymphatic systems are better off not being stimulated. Hence intensive and high-pressure massage of any part of the body is not recommended in these cases as well.

1. Cardiovascular conditions that may cause blood clots

Heart failure, coronary heart disease, coronary artery disease, arterial thrombosis, deep vein thrombosis, chronic venous insufficiency, and many other cardiovascular conditions (but not all) promote the formation of blood clots. When pressure is applied, these clots could dislodge and travel through the circulatory system to the brain, heart, or lungs. In a worst-case scenario, this can induce a stroke, heart attack, or pulmonary embolism.

People with severe varicose veins of the legs are not recommended to undergo not only intensive full-body Thai massage but Thai foot massage as well.

2. Severe kidney or liver diseases

Activation of a blood groove also increases the flow of metabolic waste products and toxins that should be excreted by the liver and kidney. Consequently, it increases the load on both of them. Almost imperceptible for a healthy person, this load could cause exacerbation of the disease for a person with kidney failure or liver disorders (hepatic failure, acute hepatitis).

3. Cancer

People with cancer or a history of cancer should consult with their doctor before receiving a Thai massage. All kinds of massage are strictly contraindicated for cancer patients with blood disorders, low platelet counts, or those who are undergoing radiation therapy. Otherwise, massage therapy can be included as a supportive treatment that can be good at reducing pain, anxiety, depression, and fatigue caused by cancer.

However, it should be noted that cancer cells usually spread from their original site to other parts of the body through the bloodstream or the lymphatic system. That is why massage in cancer should be performed very carefully, avoiding pressure on the tumor site, the lymph nodes, and surrounding tissues. Such treatment must be done by a licensed therapist who is experienced in working with cancer patients.

4. Fever

A fever indicates that the body is trying to isolate and destroy infection caused by bacteria or viruses. The activation of blood and lymphatic circulation will certainly worsen fever symptoms because it will exacerbate the spread of infectious agents throughout the body. By the way, this is why bed rest is recommended for fever.

5. Acute inflammation of wounds or injuries

The symptoms of acute inflammation after recent surgery, injury, wounds, bone fracture, or joint dislocation include visible redness of the affected area, severe pain, swelling, and fever. Like with an infection, this is the response of the body to unwanted substances in it. The immune system dispatches an army of white blood cells to surround and protect the damaged area from festering. So in these settings, stimulation of the blood and lymphatic systems should be also ruled out.

6. Contagious diseases

Clients with contagious diseases such as coronavirus, flu, strep throat, tuberculosis, shingles, impetigo, etc. cannot get a massage because, among other things, they are putting the therapist and other clients at risk of getting it.

7. Drug or alcohol intoxication

Cannabis consumption is now legal in Thailand, and there is a weed shop next to our massage studio. Sometimes people with a distinctive smell come to us with the intention of continuing their oriental-style relaxation. We have to explain to them that the combination of Thai massage and recreational substances in each individual case is unpredictable, as the activation of the blood supply intensifies the effects of intoxication. It can even result in a “bad trip”… and throwing up on the massage table, we add in thought.

II. When Thai massage should be performed with care

In other cases, there are no strict contraindications for Thai massage, but its impact force should be reduced. Anyway, it’s better to speak with the doctor about the permissible level of exertion on a particular person’s body.

1. Disc degeneration

Excessive yoga-style flexions or extensions can make a degenerative disc bulge, bulging disc herniate, and a herniated disc worse. An injured disc will irritate nearby nerve roots, entailing sharp pain.

In acute back pain, any massage is contraindicated. If pain subsides, a special Thai massage can help the disc recover by improving blood circulation in adjacent tissues and cautiously increasing intervertebral space. This massage is carried out mainly by acupressure technique, with a minimum of stretches and no bends, and should be combined with Thai hot herbal compresses.

A slipped disc is the most common back injury that can be caused by improper Thai massage

2. Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a condition when bones become porous, weak, and break more easily. With such a disease, deep pressure or stretching massage techniques should be excluded. However, a firm massage to the areas surrounding brittle bones can be quite helpful.

3. Diabetes

Thai massage is not only contraindicated but is used as a supportive procedure when treating diabetes. Increased blood flow and circulation help the cells to absorb insulin, which leads to a decrease in blood sugar levels. Also, full-body massage has a significant effect in improving the mobility and flexibility of diabetic patients.

However, insulin-using patients should control their glucose levels when receiving a Thai massage. As massage lowers blood sugar levels, there might be a risk of hypoglycemia.

4. High blood pressure

Deep pressure and stretching techniques, which cause blood pressure to increase, may look beneficial for those suffering from hypotension, or low blood pressure. Although such people are at increased risk of blood clotting (see above).

For clients with chronic hypertension or high blood pressure, it is recommended to provide soothing types of massage that are relaxation-based. Who said “Swedish massage”?

Lower high blood pressure naturally: 3 pressure points for self-massage

5. At least one month after the stroke

A stroke, sometimes called a brain attack, occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is blocked, most often by those very blood knots. Due to the high risk of a recurring stroke, any massage is completely contraindicated for weeks or months after the initial stroke. Nevertheless, stroke rehabilitation necessarily includes physiotherapy exercises and light-pressure massage.

“Swedish massage”? No, this time it was wrong. To help with muscle flaccidity and joint stiffness, gentle stretching, and lymph drainage must be added to the post-stroke treatment. In this case, Thai massage should focus more on the extremities of the body than the whole body, specifically on the hips and legs to promote more blood flow circulation to the lower limbs.

6. Hemophilia or use of blood thinners

People with severe and moderate hemophilia or those who take anticoagulant medication (blood thinners, such as Warfarin or Apixaban) may begin to bleed internally from even minor muscles and soft tissue trauma. Hence, at least deep stretches should be excluded.

III. When Thai massage is generally allowed and even recommended, but massaging certain areas or parts of the body should be avoided

1. Successful injuries or wound healing

This concerns cases like recent surgery, acute injury, bone fracture, joint dislocation, wounds, bruises, burns, boils, blisters, and other localized problems. If a certain time has passed since the damage (more than one day), and such symptoms of inflammation and necrosis as red or purple skin in the affected area, severe pain, fever, and vomiting are absent – this means that the process of tissue regeneration or repair has started to proceed successfully.

Activation of blood and lymphatic circulation will certainly accelerate the healing of non-inflamed cartilaginous, bone, or soft tissues. Thai massage lets the body heal itself, but its pressure shouldn’t be applied directly to the damaged area.

2. Chronic inflammation

Inflammation can become a chronic condition that results in such diseases as rheumatoid arthritis (inflammation of the joints), phlebitis (inflammation of a vein), dermatitis and psoriasis (inflammations of the skin), Crohn’s disease (inflammation in the digestive tract), and so on. Chronic inflammation also occurs in response to unwanted substances in the body, but usually, it’s not accompanied by acute symptoms. If inflammation is chronic and shows no signs of trauma, Thai massage may be performed with caution and avoiding the inflamed area.

3. Pregnancy

Thai massage is especially risky in the first three months of pregnancy. Beyond their first semester, healthy pregnant women can get a massage, but certain positions and techniques that involve pressure on the abdomen or lower back should be avoided.

4. Abdominal hernia

An abdominal hernia is a protrusion of the abdominal contents through the muscular wall. With such a condition, positions and techniques that affect the abdomen should also be avoided.