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Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a serious condition affecting one in four American adults. Some information suggests that people with hypertension
High blood pressure (hypertension)
High pressure in the arteries (vessels that carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body).
Is it OK to have a massage with high blood pressure?
Patients with high blood pressure who are not on medication should rethink this hands-on therapy method. "Because getting a massage will increase your blood flow," Young explained, "that increase in a patient with already high blood pressure could cause problems." And cancer patients should be especially cautious.
What contraindications would restrict a massage?
Total Contraindications Fever. Contagious diseases, including any cold or flu, no matter how mild it may seem. Under the influence of drugs or alcohol-including prescription pain medication. Recent operations or acute injuries.
When is a massage not recommended?
Put simply, if a patient presents with an absolute contraindication, under no circumstances should a massage be performed. For example, contagious diseases, vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, severe pain, kidney disease, or a history of thrombosis are all considered absolute contraindications for massage.
When should massage not be done?
Massage should not be done in any area of the body with blood clots, fractures, open or healing wounds, skin infections, weakened bones (such as from osteoporosis or cancer) or where there has been a recent surgery.
What can restrict a massage?
Contraindications to massage:Covid -19.When you have nausea, or you feel dizzy.Fever.Recent injuries / fractures.Blood disorders.When having bruises, wounds, rashes or severe sunburns.Undiagnosed Migraines.Active cancer.More items...•
Which example is a local contraindication for massage?
Local Contraindications Open sores or wounds. Recent burns. Recent surgery. Acute flare-up of inflammatory conditions (like rheumatoid arthritis)
Why is massage contraindicated?
A contraindication is a specific situation in which a drug, procedure, or surgery should not be used because it may be harmful to the person. There are two types of contraindications: Relative contraindication means that caution should be used when two drugs or procedures are used together.
What is an example of a contraindication?
Anything (including a symptom or medical condition) that is a reason for a person to not receive a particular treatment or procedure because it may be harmful. For example, having a bleeding disorder is a contraindication for taking aspirin because treatment with aspirin may cause excess bleeding.
How does massage help with hypertension?
Massage frees tissue congestion by moving stagnant blood out of a tightened area and flooding it with new, fresh blood. An increase in blood circulation can increase intravascular pressure. This is the reasoning behind a massage therapist’s caution with a hypertensive client.
What are some examples of hypertension massage?
Examples of modalities particularly suited for relaxation and hypertension include Swedish massage, craniosacral therapy and reflexology.
What is a practitioner to do when a client presents with high blood pressure?
What is a practitioner to do when a client presents with high blood pressure? Some texts claim this condition to be a contraindication to massage, while research consistently demonstrates massage can be helpful to someone with elevated blood pressure. With sometimes conflicting information about working with hypertensive clients, massage therapists must take this investigation one step further before making their decision. The following suggestions will help devise an action plan:
What is the name of the blood pressure that falls when the heart is at rest?
When the heart is at rest between beats, blood pressure falls; this is known as the diastolic pressure. Although there aren’t many noticeable signs of hypertension it increases the risk of both heart disease and stroke.
What does massage do to the body?
According to medical massage expert, Boris Prilutsky, massage’s mobilization of skin, connective tissue, muscle tissue and the periosteum, stimulates receptors that send messages of relaxation to the central nervous system. These reflexes cause vasodilation, resulting in decreased blood pressure and heart rate.
What does it mean to be a massage therapist?
Being a responsible massage therapist often means combining information from various sources to arrive at an educated conclusion. In the case of treating a client with hypertension, choosing the best way to proceed can be tricky. While modern research touts its ability to reduce blood pressure, massage therapy is also one of the most commonly taught contraindications for hypertension.
What happens when you massage your blood vessel?
One of the physiological effects of massage, especially a circulatory massage, is blood circulation augmentation.
How does massage help with blood pressure?
Massage can be an effective method of lowering blood pressure when combined with standard hypertensive treatment. The increase in circulation (and subsequent rise in pressure) associated with massage is counteracted by the dilation of the blood vessels due to increased relaxation, with the net result being a reduction in body tension and blood pressure.
What does massage do to the nervous system?
Boris Prilutsky, a medical massage expert, explains that massage stimulates receptors that send messages of relaxation to the central nervous system . These reflexes cause vasodilation (widening of the blood vessels), resulting in decreased blood pressure and heart rate.
What is high blood pressure?
High blood pressure or hypertension is a fairly common and serious condition. It occurs when the force with which blood is pushed against the walls of the arteries is too high. Blood pressure too high is defined as a reading above 140/90 mm Hg. 140mm Hg being the force with which the heart pumps the blood into the arteries, ...
Is back massage a good way to control blood pressure?
After conducting more studies on this issue, back massage can be recommended as a non-pharmacological method to control blood pressure.
Is massage a contraindication for high blood pressure?
This includes using certain types of massage as well as other therapeutic treatments which will bring about the desired relaxation and blood reducing effect. Needless to say a vigorous deep tissue massage will not be suitable for this purpose. However, Swedish Massage and Reflexology are both considered a good choice. As always it is best to consult with your GP before starting treatment, and should your high blood pressure not be controlled, you will be asked to get written permission for massage treatment from your GP.
Can you use a massage chair for hypertension?
If you suffer from hypertension, of course, you should take precautions. If you have uncontrolled hypertension, consult your doctor and get approval before using a massage chair. And choose a chair with modalities particularly suited for relaxation and hypertension, like Swedish massage, which research shows has the greatest effect in reducing blood pressure readings.
Is it safe to use a massage chair?
So you can rest assured: use of a massage chair is not simply safe, but absolutely therapeutic. According to medical massage expert, Boris Prilutsky, mobilization of skin, connective tissue, and muscle tissue during massage stimulates receptors, sending messages of relaxation to the central nervous system. These messages in turn cause vasodilation, resulting in decreased blood pressure and heart rate.
Does massage increase blood pressure?
Any kind of massage flushes stagnant blood and floods a tightened area with new, fresh blood. This increase in circulation can increase intra-vascular pressure. So goes the reasoning behind advising individuals with hypertension to use caution.
Which massage technique has the most lowering effects?
The above-mentioned studies were relevant to the kind of massage therapy being practiced. In these cases, Swedish massage had the most lowering effects on clients where as painful techniques such as trigger point therapy had the potential to have the opposite effect. In a client with pre-high blood pressure or high blood pressure, it is recommended to use only techniques that are relaxation based.
What is high blood pressure?
High blood pressure (or Hypertension) refers to a condition where a person’s blood pressure (i.e. the force of blood pushing against the blood vessel walls) is higher than it should be. Typically, high blood pressure has no signs or symptoms, but if left untreated can result in serious conditions such as a stroke.
Is a high blood pressure considered high blood pressure?
Blood pressure that rises above 120/80 but is still below 140/90 is classified as pre-high blood pressure. In these cases, massage therapy may support to lower these numbers for the client by providing relaxation. Studies have shown that high blood pressure is typically associated with elevated levels of anxiety, stress hostility and depression. In numerous studies, massage therapy has been shown to effectively reduce these factors in individuals thus dropping their blood pressure over a certain period of time.
Is massage therapy good for high blood pressure?
Overall, there is room for more studies to be done on the effects of massage therapy on high blood pressure, however the studies that have been done are leaning more towards it being beneficial and effective than being harmful. As a therapist however, it is important that you always treat on the side of caution. If you find yourself unsure about your client’s condition, or if your client has uncontrolled high blood pressure (undiagnosed or unmanaged), then always seek permission from their GP or health care provider before treatment.
What other conditions should I report to my massage therapist?
If you have or have had the following conditions, you need to inform your therapist before your massage treatment starts. Besides, this information is fundamental for the therapist to tailor the treatment according to your needs as some conditions are totally contraindicated and massage could make it worse.
What should I do if I have these conditions?
If you suffer from any of these conditions, sometimes your massage therapist will ask you to talk to your GP before booking a massage session.
Why is my medical history important when having a massage?
As I mentioned before, massage can be contraindicated in some cases, for this reason, you need to let your therapist know everything about your health such as past and present medical problems; this can determinate if the treatment is suitable for you.
