massage contra-indications

[Allstate]

hallo i'm just starting out and a friend of mine is very keen for me to massage them, trouble is they are obese and i dont know how to tactfully say that i cant for medical reasons. they never mention the fact that they are overweight so its not as though it could just come up in conversation. any tips on how to advise against massage for them would be great! thank you

 

[johndier]

Hi Florian
Firstly welcome to HP, I am a little confused by your post as it sounds as if you cannot massage them because they are obese....Overweight people are certainly not a contraindication to massage unless there are underlying medical conditions you havent mentioned then that is what you would say not because he/she is overweight.

Tigs
x

 

[SpoofeScurf]

Hi Florian

I agree with Tigs here as overweight people can find massage extremely beneficial, my clients do!

BTW welcome to HP.

Joyce x

 

[On The Dole]

thnak to both of you ... we were taught in class that obesity in itself was a contraindication as all the organs were already under strain and massage would increase this ... is this incorrect then?

 

[AJellclergorop]

Hi Florian

Well at this rate you will only end up treating slim healthy people...I am gobsmacked that you have been taught in this way! I regularly massage people upto 24/25stone, no problems.....in fact unless you measure people and work out there bmi (bodymass index) you will not know if someone is obese or not so how did they teach you to decide.....I know a fair number of people who are obviously quite overweight but much fitter and healthier than their slimmer counterparts! the main things to consider really are couch maximum weight, their comfort level if lying on stomach and obviously if they have something else going on....then thats a different matter, hope that helps, shout if you need some more help...

by the way can i ask what course you are doing...

Hugs
T
x

 

[Kaye]

Hi Florian, welcome to the board.

Generally if someone is clinically obese then you need a Drs consent to massage so you do not upset the medication they are receiving, but if it is just normal overweight then no problem as far as massage is concerned, you just have to put more pressure on to get through the fat layers and find the muscles ;-)

 

[Spirit of a writer]

thanks to everyone whose replied. its the ITEC course - and i just checked my notes again, the handout says NEVER massage anyone whose obese - so now im puzzled!

 

[Flexibels]

wow, itec are getting really cautious...

Paul, did you mean over 30% on the BMI charts to be classed as clinically obese....as sometimes it is very difficult to tell unless you are going to BMI everyone who walks through the door....?

T
x

 

[wolveyqg]

Hi TigerBee

As I understand it clinical obesity is a medical condition and not just someone who is overweight for whatever reason, the person will be receiving medical treatment to stabilise the condition which can be very serious.

I know you get lots of adverts for this or that slimming aid for people who are clinically obese but there are different definitions but the one I was referring to was the medical one.

 

[Shinny]

ta chuck!

 

[Burt the conquerer6969]

i sometimes wonder where ITEC get their information from? Obesity isnt a contraindication to massage, it can be very beneficial if someone is obese

Without wanting to offend ITEC therapists, i have met quite a few recently, who frankly I wouldnt pay again for massage....I certainly hope their standards arent slipping

 

[Godislove]

by the way, if there are any ITEC massage therapists in Bradford who want to offer me a free trial massage, please do, as I really dont want to lose faith in massage therapists

 

[whitechick]

ref to ITEC, i think maybe its the different teachers interpretation of the ITEC syllabus! i know several people who have done ITEC all over the UK and we have all been taught different things, from the massage routines to, for example, obeseity being a contraindication. Does anyone know how strict ITEC is on who they allow to teach? Is it true that anyone whose passed the exam can teach the course? do they monitor this in any way?

 

[06SHmae]

I have done ITEC holistic massage and quite frankly I was NOT impressed with my teacher. We weren't taught that it is a contraindication to massage someone who is obese but I can quite believe that their teachers aren't necessarily that well-qualified. Our's claimed to know quite a bit but I have my doubts. I am going to change college for my next course as I want to try a different teacher and see whether the quality is any better. I will stick with ITEC as the course I want to do suits me but I do think that they should perhaps re-consider the quality of their teaching staff. In fact I would almost be tempted to report the person that taught me.

Trudy x

 

[rweajueqizsinjemb]

Phew! i thought I was in for a verbal battering! I think you are correct, its not just with ITEC though....the standard of teachers seems to vary...I know some absolutely fantastic massage teachers, but then on the flip side, I know some that have no idea...one of my therapists met one the other day...professing to be a sports massage lecturer, he asked her some very basic questions, to which she did not know the answers.... I think it is a shame, as when you book onto a massage course, you expect to get the best training, but this is not always the case...I think VTCT are tightening up on their lecturer's experience now, as I know in the past, their colleges would take on 'fresh' massage graduates as lecturers, im sure the criteria now is that a lecturer needs at least 5 years therapy experience, and this is the only way forward

 

[Pompal 09.]

Wow - being obese is a contraindiciation to massage. In 8 years of doing massage this is the first I've heard of it. I also did ITEC.
Unless the obesity is causing high blood pressure, heart problems etc there should be no reason not to massage them purely because they are obese.

Florian - you can obtain the actual syllabus from ITEC who list the contraindications you need to know. Also I would question this with your tutor, or another tutor at the college.

Rima x

 

[Yes`doll]

Rima

No you are quite correct, being obese is not a contraindication, it is only when it turns into a more serious medical condition that it can become a problem

 

[xbeofuexizsitweeq]

thank you again to everyone whose replied to this, it has really helped. we were told that because of the obesity the blood pressure would already be raised and that was why you shouldnt massage them. maybe just being very cautious as already suggested! All in all though it was a very good and thorough course and we all feel well equiped to launch our careers - wish us luck! maybe now somebody can tell me how they manage to keep there hands from being injured in every day life and how they cover up cuts, elastoplasts just dont look right, and i cant imagine they feel that nice to be massaged by either - any ideas for safe cut covering?

 

[Nycgirl92]

Hi all

Just to let you know that what ITEC are calling Contra-indications. I took this from the ITEC Holistic massage syllabus listed on their website:

"Recognise common ailments and contraindications to massage

♦ Total contraindications
• Fever • Contagious or infectious diseases • Under the influence of drugs or alcohol • Cancer (unless in terminal stages and then with medical permission)

♦ With medical GP or specialist permission
• Pregnancy • Cardio vascular conditions (thrombosis, phlebitis, hypertension, hypotension, heart conditions) • Any condition already being treated by a GP or another complementary practitioner • Medical oedema • Osteoporosis • Arthritis • Nervous/Psychotic conditions • Epilepsy • Recent operations • Diabetes • Asthma • Bells Palsy • Trapped/Pinched nerve • Inflamed nerve • Acute rheumatism

♦ Localised
• Skin diseases • Undiagnosed lumps and bumps • Varicose veins • Pregnancy (after medical permission obtained on the abdomen) • Cuts • Bruises • Abrasions • Scar tissues ( 2 years for major operation and 6 months for a small scar) • Sunburn • Areas of undiagnosed pain • Abdomen (first few days of menstruation depending how the client feels)"

No sign of obesity on the list.

Rima x

 

[Iarmenther]

To Florian
How to cope with everyday cuts: Avoid them by wearing rubber gloves when washing up, and gardening gloves when attacking the nettle bed! Some cuts and bruises are inevitable - but, unless you have a gaping hole, I wouldn't advocate wearing an plaster when massaging. I have, in the past, cut my ring finger on a kitchen knife - it bled for what felt like hours (seconds !!!). I put a plaster on it initially, but took it off before bedtime and applied 'NuSkin' which I had bought from Boots. It stung on application, but sealed the tiny (!) hole. I do MLD, so don't use oil or lotion, so next day I gave my hands a thorough salt scrub, to remove any loose skin, and then moisturised. The 'hole' was unaffected by the salt, and the NuSkin seemed to work.