Neck massage may cause cervical spinal cord compression symptoms, including limb numbness and weakness, a sensation of walking on cotton, urinary incontinence, or paralysis. Causes include: unclear pre-treatment diagnosis, ignoring massage contraindications, non-medical practitioners performing treatments without diagnosis, blind application of techniques, lack of understanding of cervical spine physiological range of motion, and excessive force during oblique manipulation leading to injury.One reported case involved a worker at this facility performing an improper lateral traction on a patient with stiff neck, resulting in high-level paraplegia.
2. Stroke:
Post-massage cerebral thrombosis leading to hemiplegia. Pre-massage failure to consider the patient's history of cerebrovascular disease, combined with manual traction or compression techniques, may dislodge vascular emboli causing re-occlusion or vascular spasm. This impedes blood flow, leading to thrombus formation.
3. Carotid Artery Dissection:
Refers to a laceration of the external vertebral artery in the cervical segment caused by massage, resulting in severe ischemic pain in the head and neck. Severe cases may lead to significant disability or death. The cause is external rotational force applied to the neck during massage manipulations damaging the external vertebral artery.
4. Cervical Spine Fracture:
Pain intensifies after neck massage, with X-ray revealing fractures. Primary causes include improper manual techniques and rotational force, followed by lateral flexion force. Elderly or frail patients with severe osteoporosis are particularly susceptible.
5. Atlantoaxial Dislocation:
Sudden torticollis develops after head-neck massage, with restricted rotation and stiffness. Diagnosis is confirmed by lateral and anteroposterior X-rays of the cervical spine in open-mouth position, supplemented with hyperextension and hyperextension views if necessary. This is primarily caused by massage errors, congenital abnormalities, or excessive rotational manipulation of the cervical spine.
6. Shock:
Acute microcirculatory dysfunction during massage may cause insufficient blood perfusion to tissues and organs, leading to sudden dizziness, nausea, pallor, cold extremities, cold sweats, hypotension, rapid breathing, or even fainting.Causes include: ① Patient factors: Excessive anxiety, weakness, or fatigue combined with overly intense massage techniques or prolonged sessions causing major vessel constriction, leading to cerebral ischemia/hypoxia or hypoglycemic shock. ② Improper cervical manipulation techniques compressing vertebral arteries and impairing cerebral blood supply.③ Neglecting anatomical considerations while overemphasizing acupoint stimulation, where improper techniques inadvertently irritate certain blood vessels or nerves, triggering syncope.