Where not to massage: the areas to skip and the conditions to check

Love Life Healing editorial deskUpdated September 2026Safety claims cited to NHS, healthdirect and peer-reviewed sources
Short answer

Leave alone the front and sides of the neck, the armpit, the groin crease, the inner upper arm and the back of the knee, because arteries and nerves sit close to the surface there. Do not massage at all, or clear it with a clinician first, if you have a blood clot, a recent fracture or surgery, a healing wound, varicose veins, a bleeding disorder, or reduced sensation in the area.

Most massage advice assumes healthy tissue. This page is the other half: the places where pressure is a bad idea regardless of how good it feels, and the conditions that put you in a different category from the person on the box.

On this page
  1. The five areas to skip
  2. The pulse rule
  3. Conditions where massage is not appropriate
  4. Pregnancy and massage
  5. Where self-care stops
  6. If you have a condition
  7. Questions people ask

The five areas to skip

Area What sits there Why pressure is a bad idea Work here instead
Front and sides of the neck Carotid arteries and the carotid sinus where the artery divides Stimulating the carotid sinus can slow the heart, drop blood pressure and cause fainting (StatPearls). Mechanical force can also injure the lining of these arteries (Stroke, 2014) The muscle at the back of the neck and the tops of the shoulders
Armpit The axillary artery and the nerves to the arm Thin skin, no muscle to cushion pressure The front of the shoulder and the upper arm
Inner upper arm The brachial artery and median nerve Pressure can cause tingling or numbness down the arm The outer arm and the triceps
Groin crease The femoral artery and nerve healthdirect notes massage can, very rarely, damage blood vessels or nerves The glute and the outer hip
Back of the knee The popliteal artery and nerves to the lower leg No muscle cover, several structures in a small space The top of the calf and above the knee

Two more spots people miss: behind the ankle bones, where vessels and nerves run near the surface, so work the sole and arch instead, and the bony ridge of the spine, where the muscle either side is the target.

The pulse rule

If you can feel a strong, steady pulse under your fingers or under the head of a device, you are on an artery. Move somewhere you feel muscle rather than a throb.

Why this list is anatomy, not shynessMuscle absorbs pressure and recovers. An artery or a nerve cannot redirect force the way muscle does, which is why these areas are named.

Conditions where massage is not appropriate

healthdirect, the Australian Government health information service, publishes a list of when massage may not be right for you, and it lines up with NHS advice on the serious cases. Run this checklist before any device touches you.

Situation Why it is on the list What to do
A blood clot, or a possible one healthdirect lists blood clots, and NHS advice is that a DVT needs urgent assessment Urgent medical help, not massage
Recovering from surgery healthdirect advises avoiding massage while recovering, and healing tissue is sensitive to force and heat Ask the surgical team first
Fractures, burns, bruises, healing wounds, fragile bone All are listed by healthdirect, and a healing fracture should not be loaded Wait for clinical clearance
Varicose veins NHS lists varicose veins as a risk factor for DVT, and the stretched vein wall is fragile Do not press along the vein
Bleeding disorders, easy bruising, blood thinners, cancer treatment healthdirect advises avoiding massage in all four cases Clinician first, and light pressure if cleared
Nerve damage or reduced sensation You cannot feel harm being done, and healthdirect lists nerve damage Clinical supervision only
Heart failure or kidney failure healthdirect lists both, because of fluid shifts and strain on the circulation Ask your medical team
Infectious skin conditions, such as warts or cold sores Pressure and shared equipment can spread infection Treat the skin first

Pregnancy and massage

A systematic review of 12 randomised trials of relaxation massage in pregnancy found reduced stress, back and leg pain, depression and anxiety, with side effects in only two trials and described as minor and transient. Every woman was at least 12 weeks pregnant, and most trials excluded difficult pregnancies or pre-existing complications.

The practical reading: for an uncomplicated pregnancy, gentle relaxation massage has a good safety record and there is no evidence it triggers early labour. With complications such as pre-eclampsia or threatened preterm labour, ask your midwife first. Skip deep abdominal pressure, and use the lowest setting on any device.

What those trials did not testNone of the 12 trials tested a home percussion device on a pregnant woman, so ask your midwife about the specific tool.

Where self-care stops

We can explain mechanism, quote the evidence and describe safe use of a tool. We cannot diagnose, and neither can a shop or a device. See a clinician rather than adjusting a setting.

Sign What it can mean
New numbness, weakness, tingling or loss of sensation A nerve problem that needs examination
One-sided swelling, or calf pain with warmth or colour change A possible clot. NHS advice is to seek urgent help
Sudden breathlessness or chest pain An emergency. Call emergency services
Pain that wakes you at night or has changed character Something that needs a diagnosis, not a massage

If you have a condition and still want to use a device

  1. Get clearance first, and ask about the area, not massage in general.
  2. Choose the tool with the least force: a manual roller beats a percussion gun.
  3. Keep sessions shorter than the planner suggests, with pressure one step below what feels good.
  4. Skip heat entirely over reduced sensation.
  5. Log the session and how the area felt the next day.
  6. Stop the moment anything sharp, electric or numb happens, and do not return until a clinician has looked at it.

The massage session planner builds a plan from the area, the tool, the pressure and your sensitivity, and it repeats the avoidance list.

Use these next

Questions people ask

What 5 parts of the body are not allowed to massage?
The front and sides of the neck, the armpit, the inner upper arm, the groin crease and the back of the knee. In each spot a major artery or a bundle of nerves lies close to the surface with little muscle to cushion it, so work the muscle around the area rather than the structure inside.
Where not to massage on feet?
Not over broken or infected skin, a bruise, a suspected fracture or a varicose vein, and not behind the ankle bones, where vessels and nerves are superficial. With reduced sensation in your feet, check with a podiatrist first, because you cannot feel damage.
Is it safe to massage over a blood clot?
No. Never massage a leg or arm where a clot is suspected or confirmed, and do not use a compression or vibration device on it. NHS advice is that a DVT needs urgent assessment, because the clot can travel to the lungs.
Is it safe to use a massage gun on your neck?
Only on the muscle at the back of the neck and the tops of the shoulders, on the lowest speed, for short bursts. Never on the front or sides, where pressure on the carotid sinus can slow the heart, drop blood pressure and cause fainting.

Sources

  1. healthdirect (Australian Government Department of Health), Massage therapy guide — www.healthdirect.gov.au/massage-therapy
  2. NHS, DVT (deep vein thrombosis) — www.nhs.uk/conditions/deep-vein-thrombosis-dvt/
  3. NHS, Varicose veins — www.nhs.uk/conditions/varicose-veins/
  4. Carotid Sinus Hypersensitivity. StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf — www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559059/
  5. Biller J, et al. Cervical arterial dissections and association with cervical manipulative therapy. AHA/ASA scientific statement. Stroke, 2014 — pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25104849/
  6. Mueller SM, Grunwald M. Effects, side effects and contraindications of relaxation massage during pregnancy: a systematic review. J Clin Med, 2021 — pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8396946/
  7. NCCIH (US National Institutes of Health), Massage Therapy for Health: What the Science Says — www.nccih.nih.gov/health/providers/digest/massage-therapy-for-health-science

Devices that make the safe choices easy

Adjustable pressure, low speed settings and heat you can switch off.

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