Along with well-known symptoms of possible Covid -19 infections, please read carefully to learn about a lesser known condition, related to Covid – 19 and UNSAFE to receive massage therapy.
I am bringing this to your attention, not to instill fear, but because I feel it is my professional and ethical obligation to provide objective information. Every person must decide for themselves whether it is a deterrent to receiving massage therapy.
This condition is called blood coagulopathy. That means the blood clotting mechanisms are disrupted and blood clots may be forming, with the affected person completely unaware.
It is considered unsafe to perform massage therapy where coagulopathy is present or suspected. Since blood clots may be present even in cases of non-symptomatic Covid – 19, it is IMPERATIVE that you not dismiss the last three questions on my Covid – 19 Intake Form as irrelevant. They are:
Can you exercise to get your heart rate and respiratory rate up without any problem?
Have you had a new onset of muscle aches and pain since the emergence of the virus?
Have you seen any new marks, rashes, spots, bumps, or other lesions on your skin?
Their purpose is to screen for known signs of coagulopathy. Here is an article by Ruth Warner, a trusted and respected educator in the field of massage therapy, particularly in the area of pathology. COVID – 19 RELATED COAGULOPATHY
Covid – 19 is not the only condition that can be causing coagulopathy. We could all have it at any moment. I would be remiss to not point out its relevance, however. Only you can decide if it is a factor that makes you uncomfortable receiving massage therapy.