When Should You Not Do Shiatsu Massage? A Comprehensive Safety Guide
Key Takeaways
Delay for Acute Illness: If you have a fever, flu, or contagious infection, Shiatsu should be postponed, as your body needs to rest, not be stimulated.
Avoidance After Surgery: Do not receive Shiatsu near a surgical site or recent injury until medically cleared, as pressure can disrupt the healing process.
Trimester Caution: Shiatsu during the Shiatsu treatment during first trimester should be adapted by a specialized practitioner; some points are strictly avoided.
Consult for Chronic Conditions: Serious health issues like certain heart conditions, severe osteoporosis, or clotting disorders require practitioner knowledge and doctor consent.
Communication is Your Safety Net: Openly sharing your health history allows your practitioner to adapt the treatment, ensuring it remains nurturing and safe.
Safety First: Understanding Contraindications in Holistic Healing
Shiatsu is a profoundly nurturing practice, rooted in the principle of gentle, supportive touch to balance the body's natural energy flow (Qi). For thoughtful, wellness-minded individuals seeking calm and balance, it is often a powerful tool for easing stress, tension, and fatigue.
However, a core tenet of ethical and empathetic practice is knowing when not to treat. This is not because Shiatsu is dangerous, but because there are moments when the body is already busy fighting, repairing, or recovering, and adding a therapeutic stimulus would be counterproductive or potentially disruptive. Understanding When should you not do Shiatsu massage? is the first step toward a safe and meaningful experience. This guide will gently walk you through the primary circumstances—known as contraindications—where Shiatsu should be postponed, adapted, or avoided, ensuring your journey remains steady, nurturing, and sincere.
Postponement Required: Acute Fever Contraindication Shiatsu and Illness
The body is wise. When you are acutely unwell, it channels all its resources into healing. Introducing any form of therapy during this time can interfere with its natural process.
When the Body is Busy Fighting
If you have an Acute fever contraindication Shiatsu should be strictly postponed. A fever is a clear sign that your immune system is actively working to fight an infection, such as the flu or a bad cold. Applying pressure and stimulating circulation when the body is in this acute phase can increase discomfort and sometimes intensify the symptoms. We favour kindness over cleverness; your body needs rest and quiet space to recover fully. We meet people where they are, and during an acute illness, they are best met resting at home.
There are probably better times to book a Shiatsu than when you’re already fighting something nasty off!
Infectious and Skin Conditions
Similarly, any highly contagious or localized infectious condition requires a delay:
Active Infections: If you have a highly contagious bug, rescheduling protects both you and your practitioner.
Contagious Skin Conditions: Conditions like active rashes, cold sores, or highly inflamed areas should be avoided. Applying pressure could spread the infection or cause undue irritation and pain.
Open Wounds: Shiatsu should never be performed directly over cuts, abrasions, or open wounds.
After Trauma: Avoiding Shiatsu After Recent Surgery and Injuries
The body needs time to integrate the intense experience of trauma or medical intervention.
Healing from the Inside Out
The most important rule following a medical procedure is to avoid Shiatsu after recent surgery. While gentle Shiatsu can eventually aid the recovery process, it must be postponed until you have received explicit medical clearance. This is especially true for major surgeries or C-sections. The pressure used in Shiatsu, even when gentle, can interfere with delicate internal healing, scar formation, or recovery from anesthesia. Generally, it is best to wait at least six weeks to six months, depending on the procedure and your doctor's advice. We always encourage you to be guided by medical professionals first.
Caution with Fractures and Implants
Shiatsu is based on applying sustained pressure using the body weight of the practitioner (the principles are explained more fully in Shiatsu Massage Explained). This means specific care must be taken with bone density and structural integrity:
Recent Fractures or Dislocations: The affected area is completely contraindicated until fully healed and cleared by a doctor. Even working on surrounding areas requires caution.
Severe Osteoporosis: In cases of severe bone density loss, the pressure must be significantly lightened and adapted to avoid causing distress or potential injury. A trusted practitioner will always speak with empathy, humility, and ease, adjusting their technique to match your sensitivity.
Metal Implants: While most implants (like joint replacements) are not a contraindication, the area immediately over them should be approached with sensitivity, and the practitioner should always be aware of their presence.
Sensitive Life Stages: Shiatsu Treatment During First Trimester and Beyond
Some life stages require specialized knowledge and a deeply cautious approach, ensuring the touch remains wholly nurturing.
Gentle Adaptation for Expectant Mothers
Shiatsu can be wonderfully supportive during pregnancy, helping to ease back discomfort, reduce swelling, and promote deep rest. However, special care must be taken, particularly during the early months. Specific pressure points, particularly those in the lower back and ankles, are contraindicated because they can stimulate contractions. Therefore, Shiatsu treatment during first trimester is often advised against or highly modified. After this initial stage, finding a practitioner with specialized training in prenatal care (one of the Japanese Massage Types that requires adaptation) is essential to ensure both mother and baby are safe and comfortable.
Specific Considerations for the Elderly
While Shiatsu is highly suitable for the elderly, as it is non-invasive and can be performed easily on a chair or massage table, certain adaptations are necessary:
Frailness: The body's tissues can be more delicate, requiring lighter, gentler pressure.
Mobility Issues: The practitioner should ensure the client can comfortably get on and off the mat or table.
Medications: Many elderly clients take a range of medications, which must be discussed during the consultation to identify any potential side effects like easy bruising.
Chronic Care: Medical Conditions and Shiatsu
Certain chronic conditions do not rule out Shiatsu entirely, but they necessitate an informed and modified approach. This is where open dialogue with your practitioner becomes your most valuable tool.
Blood Flow and Clotting Concerns
Conditions that affect the circulatory system, often falling under the secondary keyword Medical conditions and shiatsu, require careful consideration:
Blood Clots (DVT): Shiatsu is absolutely contraindicated directly over any area where a blood clot is present, as there is a small risk of dislodging it.
Anticoagulant Use (Blood Thinners): Clients taking medications that thin the blood are prone to bruising. The pressure must be significantly reduced to ensure the treatment is comfortable and safe.
Uncontrolled High Blood Pressure: While Shiatsu is excellent for managing stress (one of the Shiatsu Benefits) which can lead to high blood pressure, if the pressure is unstable or uncontrolled, a practitioner may prefer to avoid deep stimulation and refer the client back to their doctor.
Addressing Is Shiatsu Safe for Cancer Patients?
This is a sensitive, important question. Shiatsu can be a deeply comforting and supportive therapy for those managing cancer symptoms or side effects of treatment. It is widely used to help manage fatigue, stress, and poor sleep. The key takeaway here is adaptation and permission.
The treatment must be gentle, focusing on comfort and ease, much like Shiatsu vs Reiki both prioritize a light touch for sensitive people. A qualified practitioner should never treat directly over a tumour site and must always have up-to-date information on the client’s condition, type of cancer, and current treatment plan. Crucially, medical consent from an oncologist is often required before proceeding, ensuring the therapy complements, rather than interferes with, the medical care.
Our Unique Insight: The Ethics of Safe and Sincere Practice
The professional ethics of a therapist demand that we prioritize your safety above all else. This means viewing every massage not as a transaction, but as a sincere interaction. We meet people where they are, and sometimes, that means recommending they postpone treatment or seek alternative advice first.
The most significant risk in Shiatsu is not the technique itself, but the lack of communication. An ethical practitioner will always initiate a thorough consultation, asking detailed questions about your health, medications, and stress levels. They speak gently, never loudly, and never pushy. The integrity of the practice lies in adapting the treatment—making it lighter, shorter, or postponing it entirely—to honour your body's current reality. We aim to create a calm space through words, much like our treatments do through touch.
Actionable Strategy: How to Prepare for Your Consultation
The responsibility for a safe session is shared. You can help your practitioner by preparing a complete picture of your health before you come for your Japanese Massage in London:
List all Medications: Include prescription drugs, over-the-counter painkillers, and supplements, as these can affect blood flow and bruising.
Note Recent Dates: Jot down the dates of any recent injuries, surgeries, or fevers you’ve had in the last three to six months.
Be Explicit About Discomfort: During the session, if a technique or pressure point feels sharp, painful, or makes you hold your breath, speak up immediately. A soft exhale should be the response to the touch.
Your honesty ensures that the session is not just pleasant, but maximally therapeutic and safe.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What if I have a localized injury, like a sprained ankle?
If the injury is localized and not acute (not hot, swollen, or freshly injured), your practitioner can work on the rest of your body to promote relaxation and enhance the overall energy flow. The immediate area of the sprain will be completely avoided, or simply touched very lightly, ensuring the pressure does not aggravate the injury.
Are there any age limits for Shiatsu?
No, Shiatsu is suitable for people of all ages, from infants to the very elderly. The pressure is simply adapted to suit the client’s size and frailty. The non-invasive nature and the ability to perform it through clothes make it an excellent choice for children and those with limited mobility.
How does a practitioner know where the contraindications are?
Training in Shiatsu includes extensive study of Western anatomy and physiology alongside Eastern meridian theory. Professional standards, like those referenced in articles on Shiatsu safety (e.g., medicalnewstoday.com and shiatsu-london.net), dictate a deep understanding of human pathology. The practitioner combines this knowledge with a thorough initial consultation and ongoing communication during the session to identify and respect all sensitive areas.
Conclusion
The question, When should you not do Shiatsu massage? is a question of wisdom and care, not of fear. We never advise against Shiatsu as a therapy; we only advise against it at certain times or for certain conditions that require medical oversight. By respecting the clear contraindications—such as the need for rest during an Acute fever contraindication Shiatsu or caution for Shiatsu treatment during first trimester—you ensure the treatment always supports your highest good.
Shiatsu is a generous practice. When approached with knowledge and humility, it offers a sincere and nurturing path to greater well-being. If you are unsure whether your current health status is suitable for a session, please reach out to us directly or review our price options to book an initial consultation.
About the Author
This article was brought to you by Norma Powell, a dedicated practitioner with a passion for traditional Japanese therapies. Norma offers expert guidance through practical strategies, ensuring clients are treated with care and their experiences are deeply restorative. Her approach is rooted in clear, simple communication and genuine empathy, ensuring every message should feel like a soft exhale—steady, nurturing, and sincere.
Sources
The shiatsu effect: What the centuries-old therapy can do for you (https://www.dissmercury.co.uk/news/shiatsu/)
Contraindications - shiatsu-london.net (https://www.shiatsu-london.net/contraindications)
Shiatsu massage: Benefits, side effects, and more (https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/shiatsu-massage)
