A handheld massage gun can help you exercise sore muscles. But a new scientific report finds that it may also increase your risk of developing vertigo.
The report, published in May, JAMA Otolaryngology, We describe in detail two patients who developed severe dizziness after using a massage gun on the upper neck and lower scalp. Specifically, both suffered from a common form of vertigo called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), which causes them to feel as if the room is spinning.
The first case involved a 31-year-old woman who developed dizziness 12 hours after using a massage gun on her neck and shoulders. The other patient was 48 years old and had regular dizziness attacks that doctors suspected were caused by the use of a massage gun. Both women's dizziness symptoms improved after they stopped using handheld massage guns.
Previous studies have linked BPPV to vibrations caused by intense exercise, electric toothbrushes and certain dental procedures, but little is known about the specific link between massage guns and vertigo, the report said.
People who use massage guns need to be more aware of this connection, said Dr. Ronen Nazarian, the report's author, director of otolaryngology at the Center for Advanced Ear Surgery and attending physician at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
“This is one of the things people have to worry about,” he said. health.
Here's what experts have to say about why massage guns can lead to BPPV and how to lower your chances of developing BPPV.
Vertigo is often described as a feeling of being dizzy, as if you are moving, even though you are not actually moving. This is different from feeling lightheaded.
Ilan Danan, M.D., a sports neurologist at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute Center for Sports Neurology and Pain Medicine, said vertigo “is often described by patients as a spinning sensation, a sense of the room or objects moving around them.” health.
There are several types of vertigo, but BPPV is the most common. Both patients in Nazarian's report had this type of vertigo.
“BPPV is caused by a temporary malfunction of the inner ear canal, resulting in severe vertigo and rapid, involuntary eye movements known as nystagmus,” Danan said.
When you have BPPV, crystals made of calcium carbonate in your inner ear break down, says Dr. Courtney Voelker, a neurologist and director of the adult and pediatric cochlear implant program at Pacific Neuroscience Institute. health. These dislodged pieces of calcium (also called otoliths) float around in the inner ear, confusing the brain about the body's position in space.
Although further research is needed, it is possible that using massage guns around the head and shoulders may cause these otoliths to dislodge, resulting in BPPV.
However, BPPV has other causes as well. People can develop the condition by hitting their head, holding their head upside down, getting an infection or having another condition such as multiple sclerosis, Nazarian said. Some people just develop it naturally.
“A lot of times it’s just bad luck,” he explained.
Of course, not everyone who uses a massage gun experiences dizziness, but Nazarian is concerned about how often the problem occurs among his patients.
Although BPPV is generally more common in older people, Nazarian says, “We're seeing an increase in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo on the younger side.”
“One thing they had in common was that they were using a massage gun just before these symptoms started to appear,” he said.
Most of the patients Nazarian sees don't know that they shouldn't use massage guns on their head and neck, he added.
“There needs to be better warnings about using these products on the upper neck and back of the head,” he said. “Patients need to be more vigilant.”
In addition to dizziness, there are other serious complications that can occur from using a massage gun on your neck, Nazarian added. A report published in 2022 described the case of a 27-year-old woman who developed a vertebral artery dissection, a potential cause of stroke, after using a massage gun on her neck for at least three weeks.
If someone is experiencing dizziness — even if it appears to be caused by a massage gun or something else — it's a sign that something serious is going on with their health, Voelker said.
“Anyone who experiences vertigo should be evaluated at any time,” she said.
Vertigo can be caused by inner ear problems, but it can also be a sign of heart, brain or neurological problems, she added.
Handheld massage guns can deliver a lot of force to the target area, so it's a good idea to be careful where you use them. Again, vibrations can cause inner ear crystals to break apart, increasing the risk of vertigo, Nazarian said.
“I don’t think massage guns should be used on the head or neck above at all,” he said. “The risk of harm outweighs the benefit.”
Aside from your neck and head, it is safest to avoid using a massage gun on sensitive areas of your body, such as your eyes, groin, just above your heart, or behind your knees.
If you feel dizzy after using a massage gun, it's best to see an ear, nose and throat specialist quickly, Nazarian said.
“Vertigo can be very disruptive to a person’s life, but it is easily treatable with a professional,” he said.
Doctors use a method called the Epley maneuver to push inner ear crystals back into place, he said.
“Most people only need one operation,” Voelker said. “It’s very rare that surgery is needed.”