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Man suffers stroke after rough neck massage

Tests revealed patient suffered an anterior cerebral artery infarction which is the major vessel transporting blood to the frontal lobes.

Love getting massages? Think again! A man from Punjab suffered a stroke after enduring a rough neck massage, a bizzrre new case has been revealed.

According to doctors, the unidentified patient’s love for being massaged may be the reason for the blood clot in his brain.

The incident has been reported the BMJ Case Reports citing that the 'repeated' massages to be the 'trigger factor'.

Th e45-year-old from Ludhiana, Punjab revealed he had two to four massages a week.

Doctors at Dayanand Medical College & Hospital were told the patient's obsession was due to 'relaxation purposes'.

He was rushed to the hospital with sudden onset aphasia - language impairment - and weakness of both lower limbs.

While the patient had ‘no significant medical history’ he was mute prompting doctors to be concerned that he had suffered a stroke.

Tests revealed the patient suffered an anterior cerebral artery infarction. The major vessel transports blood to the frontal lobes.

However, cervical spine manipulation in the form of neck massage is a little known mechanical trigger for cervical artery dissection. This involves a tear in the artery lining and formation of an intimal flap, which allows penetration of blood between the vessel layers. The result is that there is an arterial narrowing or even complete obstruction of the lumen, leading to a lack of blood flow to the brain.

The strange case was reported by Dr Jaslovleen Kaur, of the hospital's department of neurology.

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