LMT Pathology & Contraindications 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is considered an absolute systemic contraindication for massage therapy?
- Mild delayed onset muscle soreness
- Acute fever above 101°F (38.3°C) (Correct answer)
- Healed surgical scar tissue
- Mild hypertension controlled by medication
Correct answer: Acute fever above 101°F (38.3°C)
Acute fever indicates the body is actively fighting infection or illness, and massage can worsen the condition by increasing circulation and metabolic demand on an already stressed immune system.
Question 2: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is an absolute contraindication for massage primarily because:
- It causes excessive muscle tension in surrounding tissues
- Massage may dislodge the clot and cause a life-threatening pulmonary embolism (Correct answer)
- It significantly increases local nerve sensitivity
- It permanently reduces lymphatic drainage capacity
Correct answer: Massage may dislodge the clot and cause a life-threatening pulmonary embolism
Massage over a DVT site can dislodge the thrombus, causing it to travel through the venous system to the lungs, which is a potentially fatal pulmonary embolism.
Question 3: A local contraindication for massage therapy means the therapist should:
- Avoid massage for the entire body session
- Avoid massage only in the affected area while treating other areas normally (Correct answer)
- Apply extra pressure to the affected area to stimulate healing
- Obtain full physician clearance before proceeding with any massage
Correct answer: Avoid massage only in the affected area while treating other areas normally
A local contraindication restricts massage to the specific affected area only; massage can still be safely performed on all other unaffected areas of the body.
Question 4: Massage is generally contraindicated directly over areas of:
- Healed scar tissue older than 6 months
- Acute inflammation (Correct answer)
- Mildly tight or hypertonic muscles
- Normal skin temperature
Correct answer: Acute inflammation
Massage over acutely inflamed tissue can increase local inflammation, heat, and pain, worsening the inflammatory response rather than providing therapeutic benefit.
Question 5: Which of the following skin conditions represents a local contraindication for massage?
- Mild generalized dry skin
- Psoriasis plaques in full remission
- Open wound or skin abrasion (Correct answer)
- Fully healed mild sunburn
Correct answer: Open wound or skin abrasion
Open wounds or abrasions are local contraindications because massage could introduce infection, delay healing, and cause further tissue damage.
Question 6: A client arrives with uncontrolled high blood pressure (hypertension). What is the most appropriate course of action for the massage therapist?
- Perform deep tissue massage to reduce stress and lower blood pressure
- Perform only light effleurage strokes limited to the extremities
- Refer the client to their physician and defer massage until medically cleared (Correct answer)
- Avoid only the head and neck region and continue normally
Correct answer: Refer the client to their physician and defer massage until medically cleared
Uncontrolled hypertension is a contraindication requiring medical clearance, as massage-induced cardiovascular changes can pose serious risk in an already compromised cardiovascular system.
Question 7: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) during an acute disease flare is best classified as:
- A local contraindication limited to skin lesion areas
- A relative contraindication requiring minor technique modification
- An absolute contraindication for massage (Correct answer)
- Not a contraindication — massage is encouraged during flares
Correct answer: An absolute contraindication for massage
During an active SLE flare, massage is absolutely contraindicated as it can significantly exacerbate systemic inflammation and cause serious harm.
LMT Pathology & Contraindications 1
Which of the following is considered an absolute systemic contraindication for massage therapy?