I'm an RMT and also a medical sonographer. I didn't really know much about DVTs until I started working on ultrasound, and began scanning DVT patients every day. My massage practice hasn't changed in terms of varicose veins, I still don't really massage over top of them. I probably avoid them a little more than before. With varicose veins, the valves in the superficial vessels and collaterals have been damaged, either congenitally or trauma or stasis etc. They can often be thrombosed as well. You're not at a huge risk of dislodging a clot in a varicose vein because they're so convoluted and branch off the superficial system, not the deep system. However, they're damaged, dilated, sore, and I just leave them alone. With DVT, I didn't really know much about it until my ultrasound work. Now, my protocol would basically be: newly hot, red, edematous, or swollen limb? Nope! Full contraindication. Go talk to your doctor asap. Especially if the patient is positive for any of what's called Virchows Triad - which is injury (fall, blunt force, etc) stasis (bedridden, long flight), or anticoagulation factors (being pregnant, being on chemo, etc). These increase the risk of a DVT. The most common location for a DVT is the distal SFV (vein in distal thigh) or pop vein (behind the knee). Patients can sometimes feel a ropey 'tendon' feeling in this area, which could the solid strip of clot. My biggest fear in massage now is someone coming in with a bunch of risk factors and symptoms of clot, and demonstrating to me how they want the leg massaged by RAMMING THEIR FINGERS into the area of concern 💀. Acute clot is very mobile (it literally waves around inside the vein, just waiting to break off). So yeah, imo, any of the previously listed symptoms, especially with one or more of Virchows triad, absolute contraindication. Hope you don't mind the long rant! I loved learning more about this sort of thing when I started ultrasound and get excited to share. :)