Should You Still Get a Massage When Sick?
POSTED ON MARCH 29, 2014 BY CASEY HOLLIMAN
From performancebodywork.com
As I lay here in bed this morning after having to cancel my appointments today due to being sick, I figured I might as well do something ‘work related’. I know it is never a good idea for myself to work when I am sick. I am sure most of my clients would appreciate that I am not hacking up phlegm all over them. What about to receive a massage when sick though?
Some might think that it could be a good idea. Massage does boost the immune system and relieve your tension. However, when your body is already fighting off a virus due to a cold or flu, a massage can actually make things worse.
Massage increases circulation throughout the body. I talked about this in my previous post about why drinking water after massage helps with recovery. With this increased circulation and manipulation of the muscles, it releases and/or pushes metabolic waste through your system faster than normal. Have you ever gotten a massage and noticed about halfway through you might be getting a little congested? That is something I notice is quite common with my clients. That is a sign your body is ridding itself of waste, it gets a little backed up in the sinuses. When you are already dealing with symptoms in the early stages of the sickness, the massage can increase your symptoms and make you feel worse. Your body is already having to fight off the virus, you don’t want to be adding to it. Best idea is to stay home and rest. If you are too sick to go to work, probably too sick to get a massage.
There are some benefits of having massage when sick if you can deal with it (and if your therapist does not send you home, which most will). It is not very comfortable lying with your head in the face cradle, trying to keep your snot from running out your nose. Make sure you are past the initial, acute stage of the sickness. Never come in for a massage if you are contagious. That is just being considerate of your therapist and the other clients. A massage can actually speed up your recovery time. That is, if you don’t mind experiencing the full-blown symptoms of the sickness over 3-4 days by having the massage push everything through your body, as opposed to letting it happen naturally at a slower rate over 1-2 weeks. If you have been coughing a lot, odds are your chest, upper back and neck muscles are very tight. Massage will help relax these areas, and even some more aggressive techniques, such as tapotement, can help break up any trapped phlegm/mucous in your respiratory system. It can also relieve any headaches or sinus pressure you may still be having.
My advice if you are wondering if you should get a massage while you are sick would be to just stay home. Your therapist won’t mind rescheduling your appointment, and they should send you home if you show up with a sickness (they shouldn’t charge you a late cancellation fee under these circumstances in my opinion, I never do). We are in a small room working closely with you, with little ventilation, and germs can spread through the air easily in those conditions. If we do not get sick, one of our other clients is more prone to catch it. Best for everybody if you come back when you are feeling better.
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