Can massage cause a stroke?

I don't know the medical science behind it, but my uncle once got a very hard massage on his neck and felt extremely dizzy and numb afterward. After that incident, we strictly avoid any hard cracking or deep neck pressure.

Please be very careful with neck cracking! I had a dissection in my neck artery after a salon massage last year and spent a week in the ICU. If you feel sudden severe neck pain, numbness, or slurred speech, go to the hospital immediately.

Any sudden onset of weakness in one arm, drooping of the face, or difficulty speaking after a massage is a medical emergency. Do not wait to see if it goes away, get the person to a hospital with a stroke unit immediately.

I always prefer simple home therapies and a light vegetarian diet to keep blood pressure normal. Hard neck massages can be risky for people with high BP, so please avoid heavy pressure and stick to gentle hand rubs.

Don't stress too much, standard gentle back and leg massages are totally safe and great for relaxation! Just tell your massage therapist to strictly avoid any hard twisting or cracking of your neck.

Don't trust salon guys who claim they can fix neck pain by cracking bones. Deep tissue neck manipulation carries a real risk of arterial tear, so always consult an orthopedist or a qualified physiotherapist instead.