Massages are known by many to be one of the most relaxing things to experience. Done correctly, they can ease stress and help movement. In some cases they can help peripheral issues like migraine headaches and lymphatic tissue flow. However, there are times that massage might not be the right thing for some people. Here is a look at some of the disadvantages:
Price
For many people, price is one of the biggest disadvantages to having massages done. In some cases, particularly when they are medically recommended, insurance may take some of this burden. However, they can still be very costly. Many massages run between $60 and $100 per hour, which is not a price that everyone can afford once per week or month. When it comes to a choice between a massage and a meal for the family, it’s obvious which many would prefer.
Inexperience
An inexperienced masseuse may use techniques that can be dangerous to someone with physical ailments, particularly when they are related to the nerves of the body. Some media shows walking on the spine to be an effective massage technique, but in someone with compressed disks or pinched nerves, this can damage the body in ways that may be temporary or even permanent. Exposure to some of the massage techniques like extreme heat may be difficult for women who are pregnant, and those who don’t understand the specific needs that pregnant women have for massage may risk injuring both mother and child.
Personal Space
For others, the emotional trauma of having your personal space invaded is a reason not to have a massage done. If you are someone who doesn’t like to be touched or has had any form of sexual trauma, the intimacy of a massage may be something that is too emotionally difficult for you to have. Though massage is designed in professional settings to be clinical over intimate, the fact that you are alone in a room and partially unclothed may be beyond your comfort level in some cases. If this is the case, then it is probably best to avoid purchasing a massage, and to kindly decline having one purchased for you.
High Hopes
There are many different conditions that some masseuses may claim to help, from emotional memory problems to chronic ailments. In conjunction with other therapies, the breakdown of connective tissue and stress release that massage can create may help the body in its natural healing processes. In other cases, it may not be the miracle that you were hoping for. One of the important things to consider when it comes to miracle cures is that miracles can be rare. If you are using massage as a cure-all with no other treatments, you may or may not get the result you are hoping for when it comes to otherwise incurable medical conditions.