Key takeaways.
Massage by a registered massage therapist is safe for most people. Serious harms are rare, and most reported cases involved unusual methods, forceful spinal manipulation, or people without training.
- Normal: soreness for a day or two, tiredness, light-headedness when you sit up.
- Wait: known or possible blood clot, fever or infection, unhealed fracture or wound, uncleared surgery.
- Adjust: blood thinners, pregnancy, osteoporosis, cancer treatment, diabetes with numb feet.
- Emergency: a swollen, hot, painful calf, chest pain, or a sudden severe headache. Call 911 or go to Lions Gate.
- Tell your therapist about every medicine and health change.
What the research says about harm.
Three reviews give a clear picture. The 2015 Cochrane review on low back pain, with 25 trials and 3,096 people, reported no serious side effects. More pain after treatment was the most common side effect, in 1.5% to 25% of people.
A 2003 review in Rheumatology collected every report of harm from massage it could find: 16 case reports and 4 case series. Most harms came from unusual massage methods or from people without training, and massage therapists were rarely involved. The author concluded that serious harms are rare.
A 2014 review found 40 reports of 138 harms linked to massage between 2003 and 2013. Spinal manipulation within massage was linked again and again to the serious ones. The authors also judged harms to be uncommon.
Normal after-effects.
- Soreness for a day or two, like after a workout.
- Tiredness or feeling relaxed and slow for the rest of the day.
- Light-headedness when you sit up. In one neck pain trial in the 2012 Cochrane review, 22% of people had low blood pressure after treatment.
- Red skin where firm work was done, which fades within hours.
Sit up slowly, stand for a moment before you walk, and drink water if you are thirsty. Call the clinic if soreness lasts more than two days or you have a large bruise.
When massage waits.
Massage is put off, or skipped in the affected area, when you have:
- A known or possible blood clot. Signs in the leg: one calf swollen, hot, red and painful.
- A fever, or you feel unwell with an infection.
- A rash, skin infection, open wound or burn in the area.
- A fracture that has not healed.
- Surgery that your surgeon has not cleared for massage near the site.
- A new, sudden or unexplained pain that has not been assessed.
When the plan changes.
Many health problems mean massage goes ahead with changes:
- Blood thinners, bleeding disorders or low platelets: lighter pressure to avoid bruising.
- Osteoporosis: gentler pressure over the spine and ribs.
- Pregnancy: side-lying or supported positions. A 2021 review of 12 trials found benefits and minor side effects in healthy pregnancies.
- Cancer treatment: no pressure over tumours, ports, lines, or recent surgery or radiation sites. Check with your cancer team first.
- Diabetes with numb feet: lighter work where feeling is reduced.
- Varicose veins: no firm pressure over the veins.
- High blood pressure, heart disease or a past stroke: tell your therapist, and keep taking your medicines.
Emergencies: call 911 or go to Lions Gate.
- One calf swollen, hot, red and painful, or sudden shortness of breath.
- Chest pain or pressure.
- A sudden, severe headache, or new weakness, numbness, confusion or trouble speaking.
- New trouble controlling your bladder or bowels with back pain.
A massage therapist who notices any of these during a visit will stop and help you get care.
Choosing a registered therapist.
Massage therapists in BC are regulated by the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC. To get a licence, a therapist must complete a massage therapy program the College recognizes and pass the licence exam. The College's public search lets you check any therapist's registration. At Medstar, massage therapy is provided by Kevin Herter, RMT. Our first visit page explains the health questions you will be asked.
Safety questions.
Is massage therapy safe?
For most people, yes. The 2015 Cochrane review of massage for low back pain found no serious side effects across its trials. A 2003 safety review found that most reported harms came from unusual massage methods or people without training, and that serious harms are rare. A 2014 review of 138 reported events found serious harms were linked mostly to forceful spinal manipulation.
What side effects are normal after a massage?+
The common ones are soreness for a day or two, tiredness, and feeling light-headed when you first sit up. In the 2015 Cochrane review on back pain, more pain after treatment affected 1.5% to 25% of people across trials. In one neck pain trial reviewed by Cochrane in 2012, 22% of people had low blood pressure after treatment. Sit up slowly and drink water.
When should I not get a massage?+
Wait and see a doctor if you have a known or possible blood clot, a fever or feel unwell with an infection, a new rash or skin infection in the area, a fracture that has not healed, a wound that has not closed, or surgery your surgeon has not cleared. For a sudden severe headache, chest pain, or a swollen, hot, painful calf, call 911 or go to Lions Gate.
Can I get a massage if I take blood thinners?+
Usually yes, with lighter pressure. Blood thinners make bruising more likely, so firm, deep work is avoided and pressure is adjusted. Tell your therapist the name of your medicine, and mention aspirin, fish oil or other supplements too. If you bruise easily or have a bleeding disorder or a low platelet count, say so before the session starts.
Is massage safe during pregnancy?+
For healthy pregnancies, studies suggest it is. A 2021 review of 12 trials found relaxation massage eased stress, back and leg pain, depression and anxiety, and side effects were minor and short-lived. All the women in those trials were at least 12 weeks pregnant, and most trials left out women with complications. Tell the clinic you are pregnant when you book, and check with your midwife or doctor.
Can I get a massage if I have cancer?+
Many people with cancer have massage, with care. The therapist avoids pressure over a tumour, a recent surgery or radiation site, a port or a line, and adjusts for low blood counts, bone thinning and swelling. Talk with your cancer care team first, and tell the massage therapist about your treatment and any upcoming scans or surgery so the plan fits.
Is neck massage safe?+
Soft tissue massage of the neck by a Registered Massage Therapist is safe for most people. The serious neck injuries reported in reviews were linked mostly to forceful manipulation of the spine, which is a different treatment. Tell your therapist about a past stroke, neck surgery, neck fracture, rheumatoid arthritis, or dizziness or vision changes when you turn your head.
Can massage cause a blood clot to move?+
This is the reason massage is never done over a known or possible clot. A 2003 safety review listed blood clot travelling to the lung among the rare reported harms, and the 2021 pregnancy review discussed precautions for the same reason. Signs of a clot in the leg include one calf that is swollen, hot, red and painful. If you notice this, call 911 or go to Lions Gate.
How do I check that my massage therapist is registered?+
In BC, massage therapists are regulated by the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC. Its public practitioner search lets you look up any therapist by name and see whether they hold a licence. Registration means the therapist completed a recognized education program and passed the licence exam. Kevin Herter is Medstar's Registered Massage Therapist.
What should I tell my massage therapist before the first session?+
Tell them about every medicine you take, recent surgery, blood clots, heart problems, high or low blood pressure, diabetes and any numbness, osteoporosis, cancer treatment, skin conditions, allergies to oils or lotions, and pregnancy. Mention anything that changed since your last visit too. These answers keep the session safe and help the therapist pick the right pressure and position.
Sources.
Checked November 5, 2026.
- Furlan AD, et al. Massage for low-back pain. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2015. 25 trials, 3,096 people. PMID 26329399.
- Ernst E. The safety of massage therapy. Rheumatology, 2003. 16 case reports and 4 case series. PMID 12777645.
- Yin P, et al. Adverse events of massage therapy in pain-related conditions: a systematic review. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2014. 40 reports, 138 events. PMID 25197310.
- Patel KC, et al. Massage for mechanical neck disorders. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2012. 15 trials. PMID 22972078.
- Mueller SM, Grunwald M. Effects, side effects and contraindications of relaxation massage during pregnancy: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2021. 12 trials. PMID 34441781.
- College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC. Registered massage therapists: applicants and recognized education programs.
- College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC. Public practitioner search.
Registered massage therapy at 1325 Marine Drive
Book with Kevin, or call and ask whether massage fits your problem.
Reviewed by Kevin Herter, RMT, Registered Massage Therapist at Medstar Sport Physio & Health, who provides massage therapy at the clinic.
This page gives general information and is not medical advice. Whether massage suits you is decided at your visit, after your history and health questions. If you have chest pain, sudden weakness, a sudden severe headache, or a swollen, hot, painful calf, call 911 or go to Lions Gate Hospital emergency. Massage therapists in BC are regulated by the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC, where you can check any therapist's registration.