Question
Is it halachically acceptable for women to receive a thearpeutic massage from a man? The massage is NOT for life threatening injuries. Only for strained muscles.
Answer
Shalom U'vracha
It is forbidden for a man and woman to touch in a way that has any closeness. When one of the people is a medical professional and is involved in his/her work there are poskim who allowed this even when it is not a case of pikuach nefesh. Some authorities do not allow this unless in a case of real danger to life.
Therefore in the case of a massage it is preferable to look for a female masseur. If this is impossible then there are poskim who allow it if the masseur is a professional, and there is no closeness or other undertones to this connection.
In any case this should be avoided unless really neccesary.
Kol Tuv
Gideon Weitzman
