10/28/2025
Colds, Flu, Massage and You ('Tis the season...)
I created this notice for my office when I opened in 2003. The information is from my pathology books - long before Covid was in our vocabulary.
There is a rule of thumb in the massage & bodywork world that says, “If in doubt, don’t”. This applies to the Cold & Flu season as well. If you think you might be sick or just getting over an illness and you are wondering if you should come for your massage- Don’t! PLEASE CANCLE your appointment. Here is more information and guidelines for Massage & Body Work:
The Common Cold: (upper respiratory tract infection) is a viral infection from approximately 200 different types of viruses. They symptoms are nasal discharge, soar throat, mild fever (under 102 and resolves within 48 hours), dry cough and headaches. Symptoms last less than 2 weeks although the virus may be present in the body for up to 3 days before symptoms begin. This incubation period is also a contagious period. Once all symptoms are gone, you are no longer considered contagious.
If you receive a massage in the early stages -the no symptoms, incubation period of a cold- it can spread through the whole body much more effectively than would happen naturally. This is not a benefit. The symptoms you would normally receive over 2 days can typically develop in 24 hours. A little tickle or symptom free before your massage- full blown cold less than 24 hours later. So, if you have no symptoms before a massage, don’t be too surprised if you get a cold shortly after.
Once you are mostly symptom free -feeling normal for 2 full days, massage can speed up the recovery time. Note that you may feel as if you are having a bit of a relapse as it flushes through the lymph system again. They say it is squeezing 3 days of recovery into 1 day of feeling crummy.
The Flu: Influenza is also an infection of the respiratory tract. Its’ symptoms can be subtle to causing death within hours of days. The symptoms look like a bad cold; respiratory irritation with a runny nose, dry cough, soar throat, headache, chills, inflamed lymph nodes and a long-lasting fever over 102 and persists for 3 days or more. Many experience aching muscles and joints along with debilitating fatigue. In the early stages of the flu, receiving a massage could cause more serious infection than you otherwise would have had. Flu viruses may linger in the body several days after symptoms have abated and continue to be communicable for up to 7 days. Give yourself some time after the flu before receiving your next as to not expose your service provider.
Stomach Flu: recovery time can be quick for some people but can continue to spread through a household. Please give 2-4 days after the last person has had the virus in your household before returning to your massage. Remember that massage and body work can stimulate the digestive system causing symptoms to increase.
