Can I Get a Massage While I’m Sick?
If you are feeling sick, you might be tempted to book a massage to ease your aches and seek relief from the symptoms. After all, massages help you relax and boost the immune system, right?
In actuality, massage therapy may be the last thing you need when you are feeling under the weather. Read on to find out why.
You will feel exhausted
When you are sick, your body is naturally working in overdrive towards recovery. As your body is doing its part to fight the illness, you should focus on rest.
During a massage session, your body would also seek to respond to the stimulation of your muscles. If you already feel fatigued from an illness, a massage will only make you feel more exhausted rather than invigorated and refreshed.
You will not feel restful
Massage therapy is great for flushing out toxins from the body. However, if you go in for a session while you’re ill, your overworked body has to take on eliminating the toxins released during the massage. You will not only feel worse, but your recovery may also take longer.
When you are feeling sick, it’s best to reschedule your appointment to a later date and take some much-needed rest!
Worsened symptoms due to increased circulation
A great benefit of massage therapy is the enhanced circulation from the stimulation of your body tissue. This increased circulation pushes fluids through the lymph system; when you are sick, this spreads the illness throughout the body. The increased circulation can also heighten the symptoms of your illness and make breathing more difficult if you are already stuffy-nosed or dealing with sinus issues.
Extremely uncomfortable if you have a runny nose
Massage therapy often involves the client lying on their stomach for at least a portion of the session. If you are dealing with a runny nose already, gravity will make it much more difficult to manage. You (and your massage therapist) will likely not find the experience very enjoyable.
Avoid passing on your sickness to others
As with any social environment, you should avoid going to a spa when sick to avoid passing your illness on to others.
A typical massage session lasts an hour and takes place in an enclosed space that is warm and without much ventilation - a recipe for spreading an illness. Do your therapist and the other clients a favor and avoid going for a massage until you feel better.
Final Wrap
Remember this rule of thumb: if you are too sick to go to work, you are probably too sick to get a massage. Give your body its much-needed rest and reschedule your session once you feel better.