Massage can help in a tremendous range of medical problems, but there are a few conditions where massage can do more harm than good. Generally, one should never massage over a fresh injury such as a bruise or sprain. Massage can cause additional bleeding, increase swelling, and irritate inflamed tissue up to 48 hours after an injury. After 48 hours, however, massage can speed recovery by helping to reduce swelling and by bringing healing blood to the injury. Massage should not be used in areas around infectious skin conditions like athlete's foot or poison ivy.
Massage can spread the infection to other areas of the body.
Massage also should not be used if a fever is present. Massage can increase blood circulation dramatically, and so it can affect the rate certain medicines such as insulin enter the bloodstream. Numbness or tingling can be an indication of nerve injury or impingement. A therapist would want to consult with the client's doctor or chiropractor before performing a massage to avoid any possibility of aggravating the condition. High blood pressure and other cardiac or circulatory problems and cancer would also require the therapist to consult with the client's doctor before proceeding.