Health and Wellbeing information- Taking treatments at Serenity Therapy Suite
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For information about allergens please contact a member of staff. We work in an environment where allergens are handled and while we try to keep things separate, we cannot guarantee that any item is allergen-free
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Do not attend an appointment if you or anyone in your household/bubble has been unwell in the last 2 weeks
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To help us deal with your booking and treatment more efficiently, please inform us of any previous history when booking or replying to us. Some treatments may have contraindications (please see below), if you are undergoing any medical therapy, taking any prescribed medicines or are pregnant, please speak to your therapist before your treatment, or contact us for further advice and information.
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If you are booking any tinting service you will require a patch test 24 hours before.
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Whilst we try our best to validate all eligibility, we trust in our Partners and Members to use our facilities honestly and in line with our T&Cs, so that we can continue to offer our subsidised services to all.
A contraindication is a pre-existing medical condition that could make it inadvisable for a massage treatment to be carried out. This could either be due to conditions that could put you at risk as well as illnesses that could be contagious and potentially affect you and other clients and those in their place of work.
Contraindications that prevent or restrict massage therapy
Three kinds of common contraindications would prevent or restrict someone from receiving treatment: total, local or medical. Each case is individual and as such, needs to be identified and addressed by the contraindications and their severity. Any total contraindications mean that massage therapy is totally inadvisable.
Total contraindications refer to conditions that prevent you from receiving massage therapy due to your illness posing too much of a risk to either yourself or the client.
Local or medical contraindications restrict massage treatments by avoiding the area affected by a medical condition or require a doctor’s confirmation that the treatment can indeed be carried out.
The most common contraindications for massage, including deep tissue massage contraindications are:
Virus / Bacterial / Fungal Infections. Massages are very hands-on, meaning our therapists will come into very close contact with any person that steps through the door of your treatment room. Any kind of infection you may carry poses a risk to both you, the massage therapy provider and future clients because of the nature of the treatment.
High Fever. If you have a significant fever (38 degrees Celsius or above) you should be refused treatment, as this could be an indication that you are fighting off an infection. Performing a massage on you with a high temperature could result in your natural defences being disrupted, which could lead to the illness sticking around for longer and requiring more aggressive treatment. It is better to wait for whatever might be causing the fever to clear before offering massage therapy to the customer. This will also protect you from potentially catching an infection that you might then spread to others.
Please note this is in addition to the guidelines surrounding symptoms of Coronovirus/CV19- These guidelines apply as well.
Stroke / Heart Attack. If you have just had a stroke or a heart attack, you should not have any massage treatment until it is known that you are past the acute phase of the condition. This should be confirmed by your practitioner on a signed note and, just to be safe, we would need a disclaimer signed by you to declare that you're aware of any risks. These precautions must be taken due to the high risk of a second episode occurring within the first months of a stroke or a heart attack.
Skin Conditions. Some skin conditions such as severe acne, eczema, psoriasis, cold sores and open sores should prevent or restrict massage treatment to minimise the risk of more severe conditions developing. Avoiding massage treatment in or around affected areas will also minimise the risk of transmission, as some conditions could be infections due to being caused by bacteria, fungus and viruses. If you suffer from any you to provide a medical note confirming that it is safe for them to receive massage therapy.
Pregnancy. There are several massage contraindications relating to pregnancy, which could prevent or restrict treatment. It is important to identify during your pregnancy (pre and postnatal too) if you suffer from any of the following :
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Eclampsia
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Pre-eclampsia
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Varicosities due to organs pressing on the veins and arteries
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Hyperkyphosis or hyperlordosis due to poor posture
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Compression Syndromes
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Oedema
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Gestational Diabetes
Cancer. When undergoing treatment such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, it can have a severe impact on a person's body, including their immune system. Patients could be at risk of contracting an infection that they might not have the strength to fight off. It is important for them to avoid public spaces such as massage parlours and spas and to ensure that their body is not put under unnecessary stress that a massage would create.
Recent scarring. Fresh scarring, (less than 6 months old) should not be put under any undue stress that could result from a massage. It needs to be given enough time to heal, as disturbing the affected area could worsen the condition or reignite the root cause of the scarring. Old scars would need to be checked to ensure they will not cause any issues during or after the massage. If the scarring affects large areas of the body, we would advise you to wait until the wounds are completely healed.
Recently consumed drugs/alcohol - including some prescription drugs. Anyone who is intoxicated with drugs and alcohol will be refused treatment until the substances wear off. Drugs and alcohol impact blood pressure and heart rate significantly, increasing the risk of complications from a massage, especially deep tissue massage as this stimulates the blood flow and could potentially raise a person’s blood pressure even further.
A person under the influence of any substances might also not be behaving like their usual self, potentially posing danger to themselves and those around them.