Sports Massage
Sports Massage
Breeze Academy
10 February 2026
As with most treatments, there are groups of people that are at particular risk of adverse reactions or side effects. This is known as contraindications. As a sports massage therapist it is crucial that you are aware of the contraindications of sports massage so that you can confidently make decisions on whether or not a client would be at significant risk. In this article, we discuss various contraindications of sports massage, as well as a number of potential side effects.
So, what are the contraindications of sports massage? There are a number of recognised contraindications and precautions for sports massage, including open wounds, infection, pregnancy, muscle ruptures and tears, burns, broken bones, thrombosis, inflammation, and bleeding disorders. Some conditions may require full avoidance of treatment, while others may require modification or referral, but all contraindications should be taken seriously.
Read on to learn more about the contraindications and side effects of sports massage.
The vast majority of the public can, theoretically, have a sports massage without risking adverse or unusual side effects. Despite the name, clients do not need to be an athlete to have a sports massage; the treatment may be beneficial for individuals experiencing muscular pain and/or injury.
However, there are a number of groups of people that may not be suitable for sports massage without modification, additional screening, or medical clearance. These are known as contraindications, and the use of massage for those with such conditions could increase risk if not appropriately managed.
Like most treatments, sports massage has a number of contraindications. Contraindications are injuries and conditions where using a particular treatment may be harmful or inappropriate without modification or professional guidance. As a sports massage therapist, you should always ask clients about contraindications before beginning treatment.
Contraindications of sports massage include:
Open wounds cover a number of cuts, lacerations, grazes that are not yet healed. Your client should wait until a scar has formed over the wound before proceeding with massage to the affected area.
Muscle ruptures may still be bleeding in the acute stages, and sports massage applied too early or too aggressively has the potential to increase this bleeding, incur soft tissue damage, and prolong recovery. Clients should generally avoid massage to the injured area in the first 48–72 hours, although timelines may vary depending on injury severity and clinical guidance.
The above information about muscle ruptures also applies to tendon ruptures. However, complete tendon ruptures typically require surgical or specialist medical management, and massage is not an appropriate primary treatment.
Massaging a contusion too soon after the injury occurs may cause further damage and, in some cases, may contribute to complications such as myositis ossificans.
Never perform sports massage directly over burns, chilblains, or broken bones. It will likely cause pain and may worsen tissue damage.
Periostitis is inflammation of the sheath that surrounds the bone. Sports massage directly to the affected area may cause further irritation. However, you may be able to massage other areas of the body where clinically appropriate and not aggravating symptoms.
These are inflammatory conditions, and sports massage during acute flare-ups may exacerbate symptoms. Treatment decisions should be guided by symptom severity and clinical presentation.
Bursitis is inflammation of the bursa; a small sac of fluid that helps tendons to pass over bones at joints. Massage over the inflamed area should be avoided if there is pain, swelling, and redness.
Massaging areas affected by infection can spread the infection to other parts of the body, and potentially to the massage therapist. Clients should wait until the infection has cleared and any associated wounds have healed before treatment is considered.
Thrombosis is a blood clot in a vein, common to the calf area. Never massage a client with a known or suspected blood clot, as massage may increase the risk of clot displacement, which can have serious consequences.
Never massage clients with bleeding disorders such as haemophilia without explicit medical clearance, as sports massage can increase the risk of bleeding and tissue damage.
If your client has a known tumour, or any undiagnosed lumps or swellings, avoid the area entirely. Massage for clients with cancer or tumours should only be carried out by appropriately trained practitioners and with medical consent, due to the specialist knowledge required.
This list acts as a basic guideline to contraindications of sports massage; however, it is not exhaustive. If your client has a condition that isn’t listed and you are unsure, do not proceed without further guidance or referral.
Sports massage should be avoided during pregnancy unless the massage therapist has appropriate prenatal training and adapts the treatment accordingly. Massage therapy may offer benefits during pregnancy; however, certain techniques, positions, and areas must be avoided.
An adverse reaction, also known as a side effect, is a negative reaction to sports massage. These reactions may be common or uncommon, but are unwelcome nonetheless. They can be minor and self-limiting or, in rare cases, more serious.
Side effects of sports massage can include:
There are a number of contraindications of sports massage that therapists must be aware of before proceeding with treatment. Some contraindications are more serious than others, but none should be ignored.
Each client is different, and therapists may not be fully aware of a client’s medical history. As such, any reported conditions should be taken seriously, and unnecessary risk should be avoided. If you are unsure whether sports massage is appropriate for a disclosed condition, do not proceed. Instead, recommend that the client seek advice from a GP or relevant healthcare professional before treatment.
At Breeze Academy, we offer sports massage courses that explore contraindications, clinical reasoning, and safe practice in more depth. Our courses are suitable for beginners and existing practitioners alike, with the option to study Level 3 Sports Massage or Level 4 Sports Massage.
Find out more about our sports massage courses online today, or get in touch for more information.