A 27-year-old man in China narrowly avoided permanent disability after suffering a severe spinal injury during a neck adjustment session at a massage parlour.
According to local media reports, the man from Yangzhou, Jiangsu province, had long struggled with chronic neck pain caused by prolonged sitting and office work. To manage the discomfort, he regularly relied on painkillers and medicated patches.
After hearing recommendations about the supposed benefits of bone-setting therapy, commonly known as “orthopaedic manipulation” or “bone adjustment”, he decided to visit a local massage centre for treatment.
However, the session quickly turned into a nightmare.
During the procedure, the therapist reportedly forcefully twisted and manipulated his neck, producing several loud cracking sounds. Moments later, the man experienced excruciating pain before losing sensation throughout most of his body.
Reports said everything below the level of his chest became completely numb, with even forceful pinching failing to trigger any sensation.
Alarmed by his condition, family members rushed him to the Jinghu Advanced Medical Centre at the Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University for emergency treatment.
Doctors immediately conducted an MRI scan, which revealed an acute herniation and extrusion of the cervical C3-C4 disc. The injury had already caused acute spinal cord damage.
Medical specialists warned that without urgent surgical intervention, the patient could have faced lifelong paralysis or permanent disability.
A spinal surgery team led by Professor Rong Wei performed emergency minimally invasive surgery to remove the damaged disc material and relieve pressure on the spinal cord.
Remarkably, the patient was able to get out of bed wearing a neck brace the day after the operation. Doctors said his numbness had significantly improved and his ability to feel pain was gradually returning.
Medical experts used the case to highlight the dangers of aggressive neck manipulation, especially among individuals with existing spinal conditions.
Doctors explained that modern lifestyles involving long hours of sitting, computer use and frequent smartphone use have led to younger patients increasingly suffering from neck and spinal disorders.
While mild neck and shoulder discomfort may be relieved through professional massage, physiotherapy, heat treatment, acupuncture and rehabilitation exercises, specialists stressed that people experiencing symptoms such as numbness, weakness, difficulty walking or other nerve-related problems should avoid forceful spinal manipulation.
They urged the public to seek treatment from qualified medical professionals rather than unlicensed or non-medical operators, warning that improper neck adjustments can result in irreversible nerve damage, paralysis or lifelong disability.
The case has sparked renewed debate online about the safety of aggressive bone-setting treatments and the need for stricter oversight of non-medical therapy centres.
