Using Massage Guns for Sinus or Nasal Congestion May Pose Risks, Allergist Warns

Dr. Zachary Rubin, MD, a board-certified allergist, has warned against using percussion massage guns to treat sinus pressure or chronic nasal congestion. According to him, the high-intensity vibrations from such devices may worsen symptoms or cause severe complications.

He explained that vibrations can potentially move fluid in the middle ear, leading to nausea or dizziness. The same mechanical forces may aggravate inflammation in nasal tissues. Though no published case reports document fractures in facial bones due to massage gun use, Dr. Rubin cautioned that the risk exists because of the delicate bone and soft tissue structures in the region.

He further noted that applying massage guns near the neck or eyes could cause severe damage. There are documented cases of vertebral artery dissection, a tear in a neck artery that can block blood flow to the brain and lead to stroke, after repeated use of handheld massagers.

Instead of relying on massage guns, Dr. Rubin recommended safe measures such as warm compresses, humidified air, saline rinses, and gentle manual massage with the hands to ease sinus discomfort.

Medical Evidence

Massage guns are designed to apply rapid bursts of mechanical force to muscles and connective tissue, often used in sports recovery. While effective in some musculoskeletal settings, their safety around the sinuses and ear structures is uncertain (Ferreira et al. 2023).

A 2022 case report described a 27-year-old woman who developed vertebral artery dissection after three weeks of massage gun use on her neck (Sulkowski, Grant, and Brodie 2022). Another case involved a 79-year-old man who experienced an ischemic stroke after using a neck massager, which imaging linked to disrupted plaque in his carotid artery (Kim et al. 2024). Similarly, Pan et al. (2023) reported a rare case of intracranial artery embolism from carotid thrombosis after neck massager use.

These reports show that repetitive or strong vibration near vascular structures can trigger life-threatening conditions such as arterial dissection or stroke.

Safer Alternatives

For patients with sinus congestion or chronic nasal symptoms, physicians recommend:

• Warm compresses over the sinus region

• Inhalation of humidified air or steam

• Saline irrigation of the nasal passages

• Gentle hand massage over the cheeks and forehead

Persistent symptoms should be evaluated for underlying causes such as chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, or structural problems like nasal polyps.

References

1. Ferreira, João, André M. P. Monteiro, Pedro Pezarat-Correia, and João R. Vaz. 2023. “The Effects of Massage Guns on Performance and Recovery: A Systematic Review.” Healthcare 11 (15): 2135. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11152135.

2. Kim, Seong-Ho, Seung-Jae Lee, Joo Hyun Park, and Sang Woo Ha. 2024. “Embolic Stroke Associated with Handheld Electric Neck Massager.” Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases 33 (9): 107678. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2024.107678.

3. Pan, Jie, Mingming Zhao, Xiaomin Chen, and Xiang Li. 2023. “Intracranial Large Artery Embolism Due to Carotid Thrombosis Caused by a Neck Massager: A Case Report.” Frontiers in Neurology 14: 1149056. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2023.1149056.

4. Sulkowski, Kathryn, Georgina Grant, and Thomas Brodie. 2022. “Vertebral Artery Dissection after Use of Handheld Massage Gun.” Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine 6 (2): 159–61. https://doi.org/10.5811/cpcem.2022.2.55252.

5. Hackensack Meridian Health. 2022. “Are Massage Guns Good for You? A PT Explains.” Hackensack Meridian Health. April 1, 2022. https://www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/en/healthu/2022/04/01/are-massage-guns-good-for-you-a-pt-explains.

6. Health.com. 2023. “Is Using a Massage Gun on Your Neck Safe? Viral ‘PSA’ Says It Could Lead to Stroke Symptoms.” Health.com. June 16, 2023. https://www.health.com/massage-gun-neck-safety-8549274.

(Rh/Eth/MSM)