Every form of massage has its individual benefits that can be truly rewarding. If you are injured or you suffer from stress or you have chronic aches and pains, then using a massage chair or a visit to a licensed massage therapist could be all that you need. These days, massage is no longer only available through massage parlors and luxury spas but massage therapy can be received in your offices and even your home with a massage chair.
If you've never tried massage, you are missing a lot because there are many health benefits of massage that you are not aware of. Yet, with these many benefits, there are still risks involved in using a massage chair or having a massage therapy. However, the majority of these risks are due to ignorance and inexperience.
An experienced masseur can deftly melt away your stress, break up muscle knots, and even make you forget about pains and aches in just one visit. Regular visits to a massage therapist can have you look and feel ten years younger, and may even make you have one of the best experiences in your entire life.
Yet, certain types of massage therapy may have dangerous effects while other types of massage may be extremely valuable. Because of the risks involved, it is essential to consult with the massage therapist and ask several questions before using a massage chair or before proceeding with a massage therapy.
All equipment have its merits and demerits, the same thing applies to massage chairs. Among the many benefits are drawbacks and risks, below are the risks involved in using a massage chair or having a massage therapy. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t own one no, they are a must-have. It is just to enlighten you and make you more conscious when using your massage chair.
- Spreading Of Cancerous Tumors
There is a conception about the effects of massage therapy on tumors. Most people believe that applying too much pressure to the region where the tumor is present will make it break down and to spread – a process known as metastasis. However, others find it difficult to agree with that claim. Therefore, to minimize the risk of metastasis, it is best not to massage the tumor region or its surrounding soft tissues.
- Electricity Threat
Massage chairs depend on electricity to function, this makes it bound to shock and other electrical threat, including electromagnetism. People with heart conditions are advised to consult their doctor or massage therapist before using a massage chair. Anyone using a massage chair should not possess a device like a pacemaker fitter in his/her body; hence he/she risks interference by the electric field. This could end up being a serious health issue. For safety reasons, it is better to consult with your doctor in such cases, so as to avoid unnecessary complications in the future.
- Inexperience
Massage involves a high level of experience in body manipulation, particularly for those suffering from an injury that requires serious therapeutic massage for relief. An inexperienced person who managed to get a license will end up prodding and poke around in the injured part of your body, and this could conceivably make the injury a lot worse.
- Overloading
Massage chairs are made by different varieties and brands and with a lot of different mechanisms. In fact, most chairs have the maximum weight of the user written on it. And, this restricts other people with more weight from using these chairs. If you purchase a chair that works only for a specified weight range, then make sure the user fall in that range. Or, simply get a massage chair that suits your weight. Overloading a massage chair may cause it to malfunction, and could wind up stiffening and bruising your muscles.
- Nerve Damage
Deep tissue massage, rolling, and other forms of massage require the massage therapist to apply pressure past the skin layer so as to manipulate muscles and soft connective tissues. An inexperienced therapist might end up exerting too much pressure which may result in temporary nerve damage to the client.
In rare circumstances, massage can lead to:
- Unexplained pain or other symptoms
- Internal bleeding
- Pregnancy loss
- Severe osteoporosis
- Temporary paralysis
- Fractures
- Allergic reactions to massage oils or lotions
- Cancer
- Blood clots
- Burns
- Rheumatoid arthritis
To reduce the risks involved in using a massage chair or having a massage therapy, read on!
Certain medical conditions may increase the risk involved in having a massage or using a massage chair. These include pains, infectious diseases of the skin, burns, blood clots, cancer, certain forms of osteoporosis and arthritis, fractured or broken bones, skin rashes, and lesions.
If you experience the ill effects of any of these, or other serious injuries, make it a point of duty to consult your doctor or physician before seeking massage therapy. There are massage therapists who specializes in working with patients under medical care, including patients with cancer and any of the abovementioned issues. Your doctor should know how to handle this situation, else, contact the AMTA – American Massage Therapy Association to ask for a recommendation.
Remember, you can enjoy a massage wherever you go, and massage sessions feel real. More so, owning a massage chair can make you save a lot of money in the long term. Combining the benefits of owing a massage chair and having a massage therapy will give you moments of relaxation, reduce muscle tension, and also relief you from chronic pain, and these are just a tip of the iceberg. This article is to make sure you don’t get carried away by the many benefits of massage, always remember to pay attention to the risk involved as well.