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Beware of neck massage by non professional barbers
Abha Gupta. Dated: 9/21/2017 2:43:20 PM
* Neck massage, neck-crack barbers ritually perform cause long-term damage to neck joints
* Man suffered nerve damage & paralysis after a neck massage by barber
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ER ABHA GUPTA
Jammu, Sep 20
Beware of the cheap massage which people get from the barbers who are only trained for hair cutting not for massage. Many of the men who ask for neck and shoulder massage after hair cut from the barbers should make it clear whether the barber is professionally trained for massage or not.
The neck massage and neck-crack that barbers ritually perform after a haircut can cause long-term damage to neck joints and surrounding tissues, muscles or nerves or even cause bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis like the one that happened recently in Delhi. A Delhi man allegedly suffered nerve damage & paralysis after a neck massage by barber. A good old 'neck crack' after a haircut is quite common in the barber shops in India. But this neck massage didn't turn out to be relaxing for Ajay Kumar, 54. Although he came home feeling refreshed after his haircut, he didn't feel that way for long. Soon enough, he started to become breathless. After a series of tests conducted by the doctors who were looking for potential health issues with his heart or lung, it turned out that the neck cracking had damaged Ajay's phrenic nerves that control the diaphragm, which in turn regulate breathing. Ajay then had to be put on mechanical ventilation.
This could happen to anyone who is fond of getting a satisfying massage and this story should serve as caution to each of us who get regular neck massages at parlours & salons.
It may seem like a good idea to get a neck massage and feel your neck nice and loose. However, this freak case of nerve damage proves that a simple hot shower and some neck stretches are a good gamble compared to spending your life on a ventilator. So stay away from neck-cracks, people.
So beware before you take some neck massage.