Massage after diving

[joyfulsun]

Hi everyone,

Someone told me that I should avoid getting a body massage right after a day of diving as it will increase my risk of getting DCS. Can you please enlighten me on this? Thanks.

 

[jagfish]

I heard that, too...

Sure would take the fun out of diving in Thailand...

 

[Kim]

Is that true? I admit I know nothing about it, but I always thought that massage was good for your circulation - therefore should help with offgassing. Is that wrong?

I agree with Jagfish though.....it is a very common practice in Thailand.

 

[joyfulsun]

Hi everyone,

Someone told me that I should avoid getting a body massage right after a day of diving as it will increase my risk of getting DCS. Can you please enlighten me on this? Thanks.

Yes it's so common here in Thailand, as well as in the Philippines. You can even get it right under the coconut trees by the water's edge. In one liveaboard, they even have an inhouse masseuse.

 

[miketsp]

Seems logical - a good muscle pounding should lead to a lot of bubble formation.
Just like shaking a bottle of Coca-Cola.

 

[Dr Deco]

Massaging should be good to promote circulation. Pounding or hitting the muscles could cause some bubble formation/growth. This does not seem to be a problem in practice.

I would wait at least one hour following the dive.

Dr Deco :doctor:

Readers, please note the next class in Decompression Physiology is September 10 – 11, 2005 :1book:
http://wrigley.usc.edu/hyperbaric/advdeco.htm

 

[joyfulsun]

Massaging should be good to promote circulation. Pounding or hitting the muscles could cause some bubble formation/growth. This does not seem to be a problem in practice.

I would wait at least one hour following the dive.

Dr Deco :doctor:

Readers, please note the next class in Decompression Physiology is September 10 – 11, 2005 :1book:
http://wrigley.usc.edu/hyperbaric/advdeco.htm

Thanks all for the advise!
I'm just glad I dont have to give up my post-dive massages!

 

[jiveturkey]

Massaging should be good to promote circulation. Pounding or hitting the muscles could cause some bubble formation/growth. This does not seem to be a problem in practice.

I would wait at least one hour following the dive.

Dr Deco :doctor:

Readers, please note the next class in Decompression Physiology is September 10 – 11, 2005 :1book:
http://wrigley.usc.edu/hyperbaric/advdeco.htm

Thanks Doc. I've avoided massages after diving because of this myth. I'll never pass up a cheap afterdive massage again.

 

[ScubaDadMiami]

I volunteer to be a member of a group of post-dive massage recipients for a long-term, grant-funded study to determine if this critical medical mystery can be solved within my lifetime. That should be long enough to reach a statistically meaningful answer to this question that has plagued us since mankind first entered the oceans in scuba. :11ztongue

 

[jagfish]

Me too! Me Too!