Key takeaways.
After an injury or surgery, massage helps tight guarding muscles, stiff scars and the aches from moving differently while you heal. It starts once serious injury is ruled out, and near a surgical site only after the wound has closed and your surgeon agrees.
- Gentle work around a strain can often start within days. Firm work waits for swelling to settle.
- Scar massage starts only after the wound has closed and the surgeon agrees.
- In a 2012 review, 27 of 30 surgical scars improved with massage, though the evidence is weak.
- A swollen, hot, painful calf can be a blood clot: no massage, call 911 or go to Lions Gate.
- ICBC pre-approves 12 massage treatments after a crash. WorkSafeBC needs a referral.
After a sprain, strain or crash.
In the first days after an injury, the body protects the area. Muscles around it tighten, and you start to move differently. That guarding is useful at first, but it can last longer than needed and cause aches of its own.
Massage can help here, with care around timing. Gentle work on the muscles around the injury can often start within days, once a fracture or a serious tear has been ruled out. Firm work directly on a fresh injury waits until the swelling and bruising settle. If you are not sure what you hurt, start with a physiotherapy assessment.
After a car crash, many people have tight, sore muscles in the neck, shoulders and back. ICBC pre-approves 12 registered massage therapy treatments in the first 12 weeks, each at least 45 minutes long. See our whiplash recovery guide and massage under ICBC.
After surgery.
Massage near an operation site waits until four things are true: the wound has fully closed, stitches or staples are out, there is no sign of infection, and your surgeon agrees. Massage on other parts of the body can often start sooner. After a knee replacement, for example, many people have sore shoulders and backs from crutches and from sleeping in one position.
Physiotherapy usually leads recovery after orthopaedic surgery, because strength and range of motion come back through a graded exercise plan. Massage supports that plan. Read more on our post-surgical rehab page.
Scar massage: what the evidence shows.
A scar can stick to the layers under it. When that happens, it pulls when you bend, reach or stretch, and the area can feel tight or numb. Scar massage uses slow pressure and small movements across and along the scar to help the layers move again.
A 2012 review in Dermatologic Surgery looked at 10 publications covering 144 patients who had scar massage. Overall, 45.7% improved on measures such as scar appearance, range of motion, itch and pain. Results were best for surgical scars: 27 of 30 looked better or scored better. The authors called the evidence weak, because the studies used different routines and measures. Treatment in those studies started anywhere from after stitch removal to more than two years after the scar formed.
In practice: scar massage is low risk once the wound has closed, and it may help a scar move and feel better. Your therapist will show you how to do it at home between visits.
Stop and get checked if you notice:
- One calf swollen, hot, red and painful, or sudden shortness of breath: call 911 or go to Lions Gate Hospital emergency.
- Redness, heat, pus or fever around a wound.
- New numbness, tingling or weakness.
- Pain that gets worse week to week.
- No change after three or four visits.
Blood clots are a known risk after surgery and long periods of rest. A 2021 review of massage in pregnancy and a 2003 review of massage safety both point to clots as a reason for care. Our safety page lists every situation where massage waits.
Work injuries.
For a WorkSafeBC claim, the claim must be accepted and you need a doctor's referral. The massage therapist can then give an assessment and up to six treatments in the first eight weeks from the date of injury without asking WorkSafeBC first. After eight weeks, WorkSafeBC must approve more treatment. Only the injured area on your claim can be treated. Read more in our WorkSafeBC guide.
Injury and surgery questions.
How soon after an injury can I get a massage?
It depends on the injury. For a muscle strain or a stiff neck after a minor crash, gentle massage around the area can often start within days, once a fracture or a serious tear has been ruled out. Firm work directly on a fresh injury waits until swelling and bruising settle. If you are unsure what you hurt, a physiotherapy assessment first gives the massage therapist a clear plan.
When can I start massage after surgery?+
Massage near the surgical area starts only when the wound has fully closed, any stitches or staples are out, there is no sign of infection, and your surgeon agrees. Massage on other parts of the body, such as the neck and shoulders after a knee operation, can often start sooner. Bring your surgery notes and your surgeon's instructions to your first visit.
Does scar massage work?+
The evidence is weak but encouraging for surgical scars. A 2012 review of 10 publications and 144 patients found 45.7% improved overall, and 27 of the 30 surgical scars in the review looked better or scored better after massage. Results were less clear for burn scars and scars from injuries. The studies used different methods, so the best routine is not settled.
How is scar massage done?+
Once the wound has closed and the surgeon agrees, the therapist uses slow pressure and small movements across and along the scar and the skin around it, to help the layers move over each other. The aim is a scar that moves freely and does not pull when you bend or reach. Your therapist will also show you how to massage the scar yourself at home.
Can massage reduce swelling after an injury or surgery?+
Light massage that moves fluid toward the heart is used by some therapists to ease swelling after an injury or operation, once it is safe to touch the area. A swollen, hot, red and painful calf after surgery or a long period of rest is a different matter: it can be a blood clot, and massage must not be done. Call 911 or go to Lions Gate Hospital emergency.
Is massage helpful after a car crash?+
Many people use massage after a crash to ease tight, guarding muscles in the neck, shoulders and back. ICBC pre-approves 12 registered massage therapy treatments in the first 12 weeks after a crash, with no referral and no ICBC approval needed. A physiotherapy assessment early on helps rule out injuries that need a different plan, and the two can run together.
Can I get massage on a WorkSafeBC claim?+
Yes, once your claim is accepted and you have a doctor's referral. WorkSafeBC lets a massage therapist give an assessment and up to six treatments within the first eight weeks from the date of injury without asking first. Treatment beyond eight weeks needs approval, and only the injured area accepted on your claim can be treated. The clinic bills WorkSafeBC directly.
What should I tell my massage therapist after surgery?+
Tell them what operation you had and when, what your surgeon said about movement and touching the area, any medicines you take, especially blood thinners, and whether you have had a blood clot. Mention any numbness near the scar, because the skin may not feel pressure normally. Bring your discharge papers if you have them, so nothing is missed.
Should I see a physiotherapist or a massage therapist after surgery?+
After most orthopaedic surgery, physiotherapy leads the recovery, because restoring strength and range of motion needs a graded exercise plan. Massage helps with scar mobility, tight muscles that guard the area, and the aches that come from moving differently while you heal. At Medstar the two can work from the same plan, with notes shared with your consent.
When should I stop massage after an injury?+
Stop and get checked if pain is getting worse instead of better, if you notice new numbness, tingling or weakness, if the area becomes red, hot or swollen, or if you develop a fever. Also review the plan if three or four visits have changed nothing. Massage should help you move toward your goal, and your therapist should be able to explain how.
Sources.
Checked November 5, 2026.
- Shin TM, Bordeaux JS. The role of massage in scar management: a literature review. Dermatologic Surgery, 2012. 10 publications, 144 patients. PMID 22093081.
- 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.
- Ernst E. The safety of massage therapy. Rheumatology, 2003. 16 case reports and 4 case series. PMID 12777645.
- ICBC. Accessing treatment during your first 12 weeks of recovery (pre-approved treatments table, treatments April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027).
- WorkSafeBC. Massage therapists: key guidelines for treating injured workers.
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.