At certain times during the massage, you may experience some discomfort or even some pain when the massage therapist works in places where there are adhesions or scars. The pain is not necessarily good and is not a sign that the massage will be effective. In fact, your body may strain in response to the pain, making it difficult for the therapist to reach deeper muscles.

You should always tell your massage therapist if you feel pain during the massage. The therapist may adjust the technique or prepare the tissues further if the superficial muscles are tense.

Side effects and precautions

Deep tissue massage may not be safe for people with blood clots (such as thrombophlebitis or deep vein thrombosis) because of the risk of their removal. If you have blood clots or are at risk of blood clots, it is important to consult your doctor first.

If you have blood clots or are at risk of blood clots, it is important to consult your doctor before receiving a deep tissue massage.

If you have had recent surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or have any other medical condition, it is advisable to consult your doctor before beginning massage therapy. Some people with osteoporosis should avoid the deeper pressure of this type of massage.

Massage should not be done directly on bruising, inflamed or infected skin, skin rashes, unhealed or open wounds, tumors, abdominal hernia, brittle bones or areas of recent fractures. Massage can cause bruising and rarely a hematoma (local collection of blood outside the blood cells), venous thromboembolism and a condition known as spinal accessory neuropathy.

In a case report, an 85-year-old man had a mass in the side of his neck that was found to be a blood clot (known as an external neck vein thrombus). In the last year he has received deep massages at the throat of the tissues, and the cause is defined as a local trauma.

If you have any condition, it is important that you first consult your first aid provider to find out what type they recommend. For example, people with certain conditions, such as ankylosing spondylitis, may not be able to tolerate the pain of deep tissue massage.

If you are pregnant, you should consult your doctor if you intend to receive a message. A deep tissue massage (or some high pressure) should be avoided during pregnancy, but your doctor may suggest a massage therapist.

A deep tissue massage can also cause bruising. Case reports have reported venous thromboembolism, spinal accessory neuropathy, hepatic hematoma, and posterior interstitial syndromes after deep tissue massage.