| Condition | Recognize | Massage reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| Peripheral neuropathy | Numbness, tingling, pain or weakness from peripheral nerve dysfunction; causes vary | Reduced sensation changes pressure/heat safety. Protect skin and do not rely solely on feedback. |
| Carpal tunnel syndrome | Median nerve compression at carpal tunnel | May include thumb/index/middle sensory symptoms and weakness. Avoid provoking neural symptoms. |
| Ulnar neuropathy | Ulnar nerve irritation/compression, commonly cubital tunnel/wrist | Protect cubital tunnel; tingling/electric symptoms are not a target for deeper compression. |
| Radiculopathy | Nerve-root dysfunction causing pain/sensory/motor/reflex changes | Progressive weakness or major neurological change warrants referral; avoid repeatedly reproducing radiating symptoms. |
| Sciatica | Common term for symptoms along sciatic distribution, often from lumbosacral nerve-root irritation | It is a symptom pattern, not automatically piriformis syndrome. Screen neurological/red-flag features. |
| Multiple sclerosis | Immune-mediated CNS demyelinating disease | Adapt to fatigue, heat sensitivity, sensation, spasticity and mobility. |
| Parkinson disease | Progressive neurodegenerative movement disorder | Rigidity, tremor, bradykinesia, balance and medication timing affect positioning/transfers. |
| Stroke | Acute brain injury from vascular interruption/bleeding | New FAST-type signs are emergency. Chronic post-stroke work considers sensation, tone, weakness and communication. |
| Seizure disorder | Recurrent predisposition to seizures | Know history/triggers and emergency plan. Do not restrain convulsive movement or place objects in mouth. |
| Migraine | Neurological headache disorder, often with nausea/light/sound sensitivity; aura may occur | Environment/pressure tolerance matter. Sudden unusual severe headache or neurological deficit needs evaluation. |
| Bell palsy | Acute peripheral facial nerve palsy | Medical evaluation is important for new facial weakness because stroke must be distinguished clinically. |
| Trigeminal neuralgia | Severe episodic facial pain in trigeminal distribution | Light touch may trigger pain; do not assume deeper facial massage is helpful. |
New/progressive weakness, sudden facial droop or speech difficulty, loss of bowel/bladder control with major neurological symptoms, altered consciousness, severe sudden headache, or rapidly changing neurological function requires escalation beyond routine massage.