Muscle Massage Gun

⚠️ The inner lining of these blood vessels is delicate, and the intense, high-frequency percussion of a massage gun may contribute to blood vessel injury, including arterial dissection. If a blood clot forms at the site of an injury and travels through the bloodstream to the brain, it may cause an ischaemic stroke, also known as a cerebral infarction.

Medical literature has documented a case in which a young woman suffered an ischaemic stroke after using a massage gun on her neck. Her condition was so severe that a tracheotomy was required to save her life.

Other possible adverse effects include skin redness, swelling and bruising, as well as muscle strains and ligament or joint injuries.

⚠️ Using a massage gun on the head or neck may also transmit vibrations to the inner ear, potentially displacing the tiny calcium carbonate crystals known as otoconia and triggering dizziness and nausea. An observational report found that some individuals developed benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) after using a massage gun on their neck and shoulders. It also reported that some patients with recurrent BPPV experienced no further episodes after they stopped using the device.

Using a Massage Gun Around the Eyes: Risk of Cataracts or Even Blindness

The eyes are far more delicate than muscles. Even impacts applied to the eyelids may transmit force to the structures inside the eyeball, including the lens and retina.

The eyeball is an extremely delicate structure. The rapid, repeated impacts produced by a massage gun could potentially cause serious eye injuries.

❌ Impact to the front of the eyeball: Possible injuries include corneal abrasions and swelling, severe bleeding inside the eye, impaired pupil function, traumatic cataracts and glaucoma.

❌ Impact to the back of the eyeball: The retina may sustain swelling or haemorrhage, and a macular hole may develop. Such injuries can cause a significant and potentially permanent loss of vision.

❌ In the most severe cases: A sufficiently forceful impact could rupture the eyeball, causing its internal contents to protrude and potentially necessitating surgical removal of the eye.

A published case report described a male university student in his twenties who regularly used a massage gun to relieve eye strain. He was found to have sustained injuries of varying severity to the outer structures of both eyes and the fundus. According to the doctors, the vibrations transmitted to the eyeballs could cause damage comparable to the effects of vigorously shaking a raw egg, potentially resulting in lens dislocation and retinal tears.

Even more concerning is that some eye injuries may not produce obvious symptoms immediately. Symptoms can be delayed, making it easier to overlook an injury and miss the opportunity for timely treatment.