Side Effects and Risks

Massage therapy appears to have few serious risks if appropriate cautions are followed. A very small number of serious injuries have been reported, and they appear to have occurred mostly because cautions were not followed or a massage was given by a person who was not properly trained.

Health care providers recommend that patients not have massage therapy if they have one or more of the following conditions:

• Deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot in a deep vein, usually in the legs)
• A bleeding disorder or taking blood-thinning drugs such as warfarin
• Damaged blood vessels
• Weakened bones from osteoporosis, a recent fracture, or cancer
• A fever
• Any of the following in an area that would be massaged:
  • An open or healing wound
  • A tumor
  • Damaged nerves
  • An infection or acute inflammation
  • Inflammation from radiation treatment

If you have one or more of the following conditions, be sure to consult your health care provider before having massage:

• Pregnancy
• Cancer
• Fragile skin, as from diabetes or a healing scar
• Heart problems
• Dermatomyositis, a disease of the connective tissue
• A history of physical abuse

Side effects of massage therapy may include:

• Temporary pain or discomfort
• Bruising
• Swelling
• A sensitivity or allergy to massage oils