Massage and Epilepsy: What You Need to Know

Question
how can epilepsy and the disfunction of the nervous system restrict/effect having a massage?
thanx nicola.  

Answer
Greetings Nicola. Epilepsy is a condition that can be hard to judge with massage, and some care needs to be taken. For someone who has it controlled with medication, they can recieve massage just like anyone else (as long as there are no considerations with the meds). Someone with severe, uncontrolled seizures should not receive massage, as they might injure themselves or you during one in a massage, and probably need to be under medical supervision. They could fall off of the table, or accidentally hit the therapist.  For those that are in between, it gets more difficult. Specifically, a lot of this depends on the type of seizures they have. This site describes the different types: http://my.webmd.com/content/article/87/99668.htm Clients with grand mal seizures should not get massage. The jerking motion can injure themselves or the therapist, and the unconsciousness that follows may be too much for a massage therapist to handle. If they have mild, brief seizures, like the absence seizures, and the therapist is comfortable and knowledgable with the condition, massage should be fine. Massage would not be much help to a client who is having tonic seizures, since the rigidity of the muscles is caused by the vervous system and the brain, not tension, and care would need to be taken to not stretch contracted muscles to the point where injury would take place.  Atonic seizures might be okay, since the muscles are limp. A client with occasional epileptic episodes really should work to find a therapist that is experienced enough to handle a seizure and care for a client if they have an episode. The therapist would need to know exactly how to handle their condition. And the client should always contact their doctor if they are unsure if massage is for them.

Care also needs to be exercised with other disfunctions of the nervous system. Something like peripheral neuropathy, where there is no or limited feeling in the limbs, contraindicates all but the lightest of touches. The client cannot feel pain, and cannot tell you if the pressure is too deep. Conditions like multiple sclerosis is fine for massage, if the therapist is trained in dealing with clients with special needs. I once had a client who had a severe case of MS, and needed special help getting on the table and being moved.

Most of this is common sense. And there should be good communication between the client and the therapist, and even the client's doctor, if necessary.

I hope this helps some, Nicola. Please feel free to write back if you have any further questions, or if there are any other specific conditions I did not address. Also, please feel free to rate me on AllExperts; both positive and constructive feedback helps me learn how to help others better.

Sincerely,
Christopher Hall