Massage is commonly regarded as a therapy associated with relieving muscle tension and pain.
For some people, a routine massage may actually be the cause of considerable discomfort and physical disability.
In a recent case report, a healthy 38-year-old woman received a massage. During the massage she experienced left shoulder pain. Following the massage, her pain persisted, causing difficulty in lifting her arm. Medical examination revealed upper scapular winging and weakness of left shoulder shrug and arm lifting. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed swelling in the left upper back. Spinal accessory nerve conduction studies and needle electromyography performed three weeks after onset also showed abnormal findings in the left upper back area. The patient underwent physical therapy and gradually improved over 6 weeks. However, 2 years after onset the patient still experiences persistent mild left shoulder pain and weakness.