October 1, 2026
When Should You NOT Get a Massage?
Having an appointment booked does not mean massage is the right choice that day. A change in your health can be a good reason to postpone or adjust treatment.
When should you not get a massage? Start by separating three situations: an illness that makes attending unwise, a condition that requires a modified approach, and symptoms that need medical attention instead.
Postpone if you are acutely unwell
If you have a fever, vomiting, diarrhoea or a contagious illness, contact the clinic rather than arriving and hoping treatment will help. Rest and appropriate medical advice may be the better priority, and other people in the clinic need consideration too.
Do not use massage to investigate unexplained severe pain or to push through an illness that is getting worse.
Some symptoms need urgent assessment
New swelling, pain, warmth or colour change in one leg can indicate a blood clot. Seek urgent medical assessment and do not massage the area. If this occurs with chest pain or breathlessness, call 911. The NHS information on deep vein thrombosis describes the warning signs.
Other reasons to seek emergency care include sudden weakness or speech difficulty, a sudden severe headache, new loss of bowel or bladder control with back or leg symptoms, or serious injury after a fall or collision.
A massage booking is not a suitable place to wait out a possible emergency.
A fresh injury may need a different plan
A newly injured area with substantial swelling, bruising or loss of function should be assessed before direct pressure is considered. Pain relief alone would not tell you whether a fracture, tear or other injury is present.
After surgery, follow the surgical team’s restrictions. Ask before booking if you are unsure whether treatment is permitted, and bring relevant instructions.
Conditions that may require adaptation
Pregnancy, cancer care, osteoporosis, diabetes and use of blood-thinning medication are not automatic bans on all massage. They can change pressure, positioning, areas to avoid and whether coordination with your healthcare team is needed.
Tell your RMT about changes in sensation, fragile skin, open wounds, infections and recent procedures. Do not omit something because it seems unrelated to the muscle you want treated. Never stop prescribed medication to prepare for a massage.
Your consent is also a reason to stop
You can decline treatment because you do not feel comfortable, do not understand the plan or simply do not want to continue. You do not need a medical reason.
Ask for an explanation, a different position, less pressure or an alternative approach. If you cannot give informed consent because you are impaired or too unwell, treatment should not proceed as though nothing has changed.
Ask before you travel to the clinic
For a non-urgent question, contact Kevin and explain what has changed. The answer may be to keep the appointment with adjustments or to arrange another type of care first.
Read Your 1st Visit for preparation details. Giving an accurate health history helps make that decision safer and more useful.
Appointments with Kevin Breiter RMT
Kevin practises at Silver Sands Registered Massage Therapy in Vernon, upstairs in Suite #206 at 3203 30th Street. Book online through Jane, or contact Kevin with a non-urgent question before booking.