Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/68016
Below are general guidelines used to determine when clients can or cannot receive hydrotherapy treatments. Because there are many types of treatments, the resourceful massage therapist can usually substitute one treatment for another if contraindications are present. For example, although hot baths are helpful for insomnia, neutral temperature baths or a combination treatment (see below) can also be very effective. A quick reminder: hydrotherapy treatments are not used on skin that is infected or has rashes. And use of some medications will preclude the use of some treatments (for more information, see Jean M. Wible's Pharmacology for Massage Therapy (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2004). LOCALIZED HEAT TREATMENTS Since they can encourage edema, heat applications, such as hot packs, are contraindicated when clients have acute local inflammation of any kind—from phlebitis to a fresh ankle sprain to lymphedema. Heat applications are also contraindicated over implants, pacemakers, defibrillators, medication pumps or other artificial devices, and over any part of the body that is known to be atherosclerotic, any area that is numb, and over the feet of anyone with diabetes. LOCALIZED COLD TREATMENTS Local cold treatments, such as ice water handbaths or footbaths, are contraindicated for Raynaud's syndrome (a vasoconstriction disorder of the extremities), because cold may cause a spasm of the smallest arteries of the hands or feet. They are also contraindicated for any area that is numb. (Many conditions can cause the loss of normal sensation, including arteriosclerosis, nerve injury, exposure to toxic substances, diabetes, and neuromuscular conditions like spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis). WHOLE-BODY HEAT TREATMENTS High temperature can create extra demands on the circulatory system, including significant changes in how fast the heart beats, how much blood the heart pumps with each beat, blood pressure, the size of different blood vessels, and where the blood is being shifted to in the body. In general, much more of the person's blood supply than usual will be shifted to the vessels of the skin. Therefore, unless approved by the client's doctor, Many local hydrotherapy treatments can replace the massage strokes needed to relax superficial muscles and increase local circulation.