However, according to rehabilitation experts, not every case is suitable for this method.
Neck and shoulder pain often manifests as a feeling of stiffness and severe fatigue in the neck, shoulders and neck area, sometimes causing difficulty in turning your head or bowing your neck. In most cases, the cause is muscle strain, sitting in the wrong position, working continuously, or sleeping in the wrong position.
According to rehabilitation technician Le Thi Minh Thinh (Daytime Treatment Unit, University Medical Center Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, facility 3), in cases of mild to moderate pain, mainly due to muscle tension, not accompanied by numbness, weakness of the hand or injury history, patients can choose massage, acupressure or relaxation massage. When performed correctly, these methods help relax muscles, reduce stiffness, improve blood circulation and increase flexibility of the neck and shoulder area.
However, experts advise patients not to arbitrarily bend, twist the neck or massage too hard when in pain. The neck area is where many important structures are concentrated such as the cervical spine, spinal cord, blood vessels and nervous system. Improper technical action can damage these structures, making the pain worse.
In particular, patients need to go to a medical facility for examination before massage if pain appears after a fall, traffic accident or strong impact. This may be a sign of cervical or ligament damage, which needs to be diagnosed by imaging before intervention.
In addition, cases of prolonged pain that does not subside for many days, pain gradually increases over time, pain to the point of affecting sleep or accompanied by symptoms such as pain spreading down to the arm, numbness, muscle weakness, reduced grip ability or unstable walking also need to be checked by a doctor. These are warning signs that may be related to nerve root compression or cervical spinal diseases that require intensive treatment.
Systemic symptoms such as fever, prolonged fatigue, unexplained weight loss or severe dizziness should not be subjective. In addition, people with underlying diseases such as severe osteoporosis, cancer, blood clotting disorders or using anticoagulants need to be evaluated by a doctor before applying massage and acupressure measures.
According to traditional medicine, neck and shoulder pain may be related to poor blood circulation, cramped menstruation, or due to the effects of wind, cold, and damp factors. In appropriate cases, massage and acupressure can effectively support blood circulation, muscle relaxation, and pain reduction.
Experts recommend that it is important for patients to distinguish between normal muscle pain and pain with abnormal signs. If pain only appears after a long period of work and improves after rest, proper massage can be effective. Conversely, when pain is prolonged, increasingly severe or neurological symptoms appear, early examination will help identify the cause correctly and choose appropriate treatment methods, avoiding unfortunate complications.
