Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/68178
ACUPRESSURE POINTS Another common reason cited for avoiding massage to the ankles is the fear of stimulating acupressure points that might trigger contractions. Again, misunderstandings abound regarding the use, locations, and methods of accessing acupoints, as well as the differences between acupressure as opposed to acupuncture prohibitions. Some acupuncture contraindications exist to prevent causing direct harm using the needling technique. These points are not necessarily contraindicated for acupressure. Acupressure and shiatsu can be used to support the induction of labor when desired; however, in order to have any hope of encouraging uterine contractions, a different type of touch is required than is provided by general massage. Acupressure typically requires applications of direct pressure stimulating specific points over a period of hours or days in order to have a lasting and cumulative effect. Even then, many skilled practitioners are not successful in inducing contractions. Acupoints that are often considered useful in efforts to stimulate contractions are located on the inner leg, hand, sacrum, and one adjunctive point just posterior to the lateral malleolus—Bladder 60 (Image 2). However, there are discrepancies in massage and acupressure texts regarding prohibited acupoints. A variety of points around the ankles are sometimes listed as contraindicated, including Kidney 3, Kidney 4, Kidney 5, Kidney 8, and Bladder 62.13, 14, 15 These points can be used to support labor, calm the mind, beneficially influence the uterus, drain heat, move blood, or relax the back. But they are not considered points that trigger contractions and are not standard contraindications during pregnancy. Bladder 60 is the only point around the ankle that the majority (but not all) of the sources I researched referred to as contraindicated. It has properties of drawing energy downward and is often used in combination with other points when attempting to induce labor. Acupuncture and acupressure specialists indicate that there are no blanket contraindications for acupoints and some suggested that the stimulation of acupuncture points to help induce labor or dislodge a fetus may be "way overrated." Chad Dupois, LAc of the Chattanooga Acupuncture and Wellness Center writes, "As with all of acupuncture, nothing is ever set in stone. There are people/styles [of acupuncture] who Despite the prevalence of miscarriage and the fear of preterm labor, gentle therapeutic massage to the feet and ankles is not an associated cause. regularly use contraindicated points during pregnancy." An example of this is a study investigating the use of acupuncture for reducing back pain in pregnancy that used the ankle point Bladder 60 on subjects between 12–30 weeks pregnant, with no ill consequences.16 Acupressure has its own rules of practice and contraindications and can be very powerful when properly applied. But the question being explored here is whether massage can stimulate these contraindicated acupoints, resulting in serious consequences. Bronwyn Whitlocke, connect with your colleagues on massageprofessionals.com 73