Stop doing massage randomly, it can really kill you! Especially for these types of people

Massage has now become a "must-have" in many people's lives.

In our busy lives, many people like to relieve stress and physical fatigue through massage. Whether it is after a day of work or muscle soreness after exercise, massage can relax the body and make you feel good. It not only relieves tense muscles, but also promotes blood circulation and even helps relieve mental stress.

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However, although massage has many benefits, it is not suitable for everyone and all the time. For some people, massage may not only be useless, but may even bring health risks.

These people are not suitable for massage

Massage is a common method of relaxing muscles through mechanical pressure, which can effectively relieve muscle tension caused by long hours of head-down work. However, the following groups of people should be cautious about massage.

1

Patients with cervical spondylosis

For patients with cervical spondylosis, massage requires extra care. Especially when the patient suffers from cervical spondylotic myelopathy, segmental cervical instability or developmental cervical spinal stenosis, the spinal cord is already under slight pressure. In this case, if the masseur massages the spine vigorously, it may bring a short and violent impact to the spine, causing the spinal cord to be instantly compressed, thus causing a sharp deterioration of nerve function and even permanent high-level paraplegia.

2

Middle-aged and elderly people

In addition to the risk of spinal cord compression, neck massage must also take into account the problem of carotid artery plaque, which is particularly common in the middle-aged and elderly population, especially those with hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia or smoking habits. When the neck is massaged, the hardened plaque may fall off and flow into the brain with the blood, causing a stroke and causing serious consequences.

For the elderly, the risks of massage are far more than that. As they age, many elderly people will suffer from senile osteoporosis, and the degree of osteoporosis will increase with age. If you use too much force during massage, it may cause fractures or joint dislocations. At the same time, you should avoid using massage chairs or automatic massagers because these devices may not provide a massage force that is suitable for your personal situation.

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3

People with other specific diseases

In addition, there is another often overlooked issue: if there is a hamartoma in the kidney (such as a leiomyolipomas), it should not be pressed vigorously. In November 2022, it was reported that a woman had to be hospitalized for emergency treatment because her lipoma ruptured due to massage.

While enjoying the relaxing effects of massage, it is also important to be aware of its potential health risks, especially for people with specific health problems.

Massage of these areas

Don't do it!

In addition to the specific groups mentioned above, some body parts and massage techniques also pose risks to healthy people.

1

Neck massage

First of all, we have to talk about neck massage, because in addition to the risks of neck massage for people with specific diseases, some parts of the neck are also potentially risky for healthy people, such as the carotid sinus, which is located three fingers wide around the midline of the neck and is extremely sensitive. Any improper stimulation by external force may cause serious consequences, ranging from fainting to cardiac arrest.

Image from reference [1]

In addition, there is a massage technique video on a short video platform that can relieve insomnia and dreaminess. What is worrying is that the video recommends pressing and rubbing the carotid sinus area for one minute, which is very dangerous. This video has received 183,000 likes. If anyone around you has seen similar videos, please be sure to remind them to avoid trying such massage techniques.

Image source: A social platform

2

Breast massage

In addition, it is strongly recommended that you avoid breast massage. First, the breast massage oils provided by many beauty salons contain estrogen, and this additional hormone intake may increase the risk of breast cancer. If early breast cancer already exists, this massage may also stimulate tumor growth and accelerate the disease to the middle and late stages. Secondly, the lumps of early breast cancer may be very small or even absent, and are usually asymptomatic. Sometimes even professional breast doctors find it difficult to detect through palpation. If the tumor already exists during massage, improper techniques may promote its metastasis. This has been scientifically confirmed through animal experiments. Therefore, we should be cautious about breast massage to avoid possible health risks.

In general, massage, as a way to relax the body and mind, can indeed bring many benefits. But before enjoying this relaxation, it is very important to understand your physical condition. Mastering the taboos of massage can not only make you feel more at ease during massage, but also avoid potential health risks. After all, health is the most important thing, and massage can only really play its role under the premise of safety.

So, next time you plan to book a massage, it might be a good idea to review whether you have any conditions that might make you unsuitable for massage. If you have any questions, it’s best to consult your doctor or a professional masseur in advance.

References

[1]PasquierM,ClairM,PruvotE,etal.CarotidSinusMassage.NEnglJMed.2017;377(15):e21.[2]WangJY,WuPK,ChenPC,etal.Manipulat iontherapypriortodiagnosisinducedprimaryosteosarcomametastasis--fromclinicaltobasicresearch.PLoSOne.2014;9(5):e96571.

Planning and production

Author: Jiang Yongyuan, Master of Internal Medicine, Third Military Medical University

Reviewer: Tang Qin, Director of the Science Popularization Department of the Chinese Medical Association, National Health Science Popularization Expert