Improper neck massage will affect motor and sensory functions in the dominant nerve area, in severe cases it can cause paralysis, spinal cord damage and possibly death.
Singer Ping Chayada, 20 years old, Thailand, recently passed away after being hospitalized for treatment of complications believed to have occurred after a neck massage. The doctor diagnosed a pinched nerve due to an injury.
According to Dr. Calvin Q. Trinh, Director of HMR Physical and Rehabilitation Center, the neck is literally a vital part of the body, meaning it is both important and weak. The cervical spinal cord is where nerves transmit from the brain to the entire body.
Some amateur massage therapists, even trained ones, often use strong force to create cracking sounds, or apply deep and strong pressure to treat the patient’s pain, or use a wooden hammer to tap hard on the spine. These methods cause damage to the vertebrae such as displacement, rupture, compression, bleeding, and edema, leading to spinal cord damage. In particular, in people with underlying vertebral body degeneration, osteoporosis, or mild spinal injury, the above effects can cause severe spinal cord damage.
As a result, the motor and sensory functions in the dominant nerve area are affected, and in more severe cases, it causes paralysis, even quadriplegia or total body paralysis. If damage occurs in the high spinal cord area (C3 or higher), it can damage the cardiovascular and respiratory nervous systems, leading to death.
People with neck and shoulder pain should see a medical facility for proper treatment. Image: Doctor provided
According to doctors, neck and shoulder pain is largely due to upper body muscle imbalance leading to muscle contraction, muscle tension and overload in the neck and shoulder area, causing pain and fatigue. Then the head protrudes forward, changing the physiological curve of the cervical spine, activating the body’s self-protection mechanism. This causes the muscles in the spine to increase and contract to maintain the structure, increasing disc pressure, causing herniation, reducing range of motion, and changing the joint center of gravity, leading to spinal degeneration.
The disease often occurs in people who sit a lot and use computers or smartphones regularly, related to posture and living habits. In cases of severe muscle imbalance, the patient cannot raise their arms high, even when combing their hair. There may be pain along the arm or numbness in the fingers, along with very uncomfortable muscle tension in the neck and shoulder area. Neck and shoulder pain can also be due to many causes such as degeneration, herniated discs of the cervical vertebrae, apical lung tumors…
Massage can help relax, soothe and reduce pain caused by muscle relaxation. However, this therapy cannot treat neck and shoulder pain caused by muscle imbalance or physical damage. Treatment should include musculoskeletal correction, combined with changing bad posture habits and practicing simple movements at home.
Dr. Calvin Q. Trinh recommends that you go to the doctor to re-establish muscle balance in the neck and shoulder area, and re-establish the physiological curve of the cervical and thoracic spine, in order to resolve the root cause of the disease. When going for a massage to relax, you should not mention the issue of therapy or treatment to the masseuse, and you should not ask them to do it vigorously, leading to unpredictable risks.
Prevent disease by sitting in the correct posture, back straight, head straight, trying to achieve a 90-90-90 position. When standing, your back and head should be in the same straight line. Do not lie with your head elevated or maintain a crouching position frequently.