Summary

Contraindications to all massage:
• At least three hours after a meal
• Drink or drugs on the day
• Extreme unexplained tenderness *
• Acute swelling*
• Cysts, lumps and bumps*
• Epilepsy*
• Thrombosis*
• High temperature
• Treatable cancer
• 12 months after major surgery
• 6 months after minor surgery
*refer client to doctor for report and clearance

Contraindications to specific strokes:
• Nervous exhaustion – do not friction, do not use tapotement strokes. Use petrissage with discretion.
• Pregnancy – avoid tapotement and petrissage on the lower back.
• Osteoporosis – (find out degree). Avoid tapotement and friction on affected areas.
• Heart-attack and stroke – effleurage only in first 6 –10 months, introduce petrissage with discretion after 10 months, introduce tapotement after 18 months but caution on back.
• Angina – avoid direct tapotement or friction (Check layout in site)

Contraindications to specific body areas:
Avoid
• excessive weeping skin
• dry flaky skin
• varicose veins
• scar tissue
• bruising
• unexplained lumps and bumps.

Caution needed
• High/low blood pressure
• thrombosis (delete)
• treated broken bones
• scar tissue
• varicose veins
• overweight/obesity