A case report describes a 50-year-old previously healthy man who presented with acute right lower quadrant abdominal pain 4 hours after receiving a deep tissue massage for low back pain from an unlicensed therapist. CT angiography showed a segmental acute infarction of the right kidney with occlusion of the superior segmental artery. The patient was successfully treated with anticoagulation therapy, with gradual resolution of symptoms. The proposed mechanism is direct mechanical trauma to the renal artery. The safety profile includes the serious adverse event of segmental kidney infarction and acute kidney injury. Key limitations are inherent to the case report format: this is a single case, so it cannot establish incidence or prevalence. Furthermore, the massage was performed by an unlicensed therapist, which may not reflect outcomes from licensed practitioners. The practice relevance is restrained; this case suggests clinicians should be aware that deep tissue massage, particularly from unlicensed providers, carries a potential, albeit likely rare, risk of severe vascular injury. Prompt evaluation of abdominal pain following massage is essential.
Doctors reported on a single case of a 50-year-old man in good health who developed sudden, severe abdominal pain four hours after receiving a deep tissue massage for low back pain. The massage was performed by an unlicensed therapist. A CT scan showed that a small artery supplying part of his right kidney was blocked, leading to a small area of tissue damage (infarction). He was successfully treated with blood-thinning medication and his symptoms gradually improved.
This case suggests that deep tissue massage, particularly when performed by an unlicensed practitioner, has the potential to cause serious injury by damaging blood vessels. The proposed mechanism is that direct pressure from the massage may have injured the artery leading to the kidney. The patient experienced acute kidney injury and significant pain as a result.
It is crucial to understand that this is only one reported case. It cannot tell us how often this might happen or if it is a risk with massages from licensed professionals. The report serves as an important reminder that any new, severe pain after a massage should be evaluated promptly by a doctor. Readers should see this as a note of caution about potential rare risks, not as evidence that massage is generally unsafe.
What this means for you: A single case shows deep tissue massage can rarely injure kidney blood vessels. Seek medical care for severe pain after a massage.
