Death of 20-year-old Thai singer Ping Chayada sparks warnings over risks of 'neck-twisting' massages

According to the South China Morning Post, Dr. Chatpon Kongfeangfung, who has 1.1 million TikTok followers, posted a video emphasizing the potential dangers of twisting the neck.

"An experienced masseuse would not twist the client’s neck because it’s known as a dangerous point," he said in one of his latest videos. "I’ve warned people before, do not ever let the masseuse twist your neck because it can be fatal."

Thai singer, Ping Chayada. Photo courtesy of Ping's Facebook

Kongfeangfung further clarified that the neck houses the carotid artery, responsible for delivering oxygen-rich blood to the brain, and any constriction in this area can lead to strokes or brain damage.

Before her death, Chayada had posted about three massage sessions she received at a Thai massage parlor in Udon Thani Province. In her first two visits, a therapist performed neck-twisting maneuvers, and after a third, more intense session, she began experiencing numbness, pain, and muscle weakness, eventually leading to paralysis of her right arm. She was hospitalized shortly thereafter but succumbed to septicemia and brain swelling on Dec. 8, as reported by Bangkok Post.

Neurologist Dr. Surat Tanprawate, another Thai doctor, suggested that Chayada's death was unlikely to be directly caused by a spinal cord injury from neck-twisting in traditional Thai massages, but he also cautioned about the risks of such intense practices.

Tanprawate explained on Facebook that this condition, known as hyperalgesia, occurs when cells perceive dysfunction and generate pain on their own, typically due to inflammation. He also noted: "The important thing is that, when it hurts a lot, the masseuse will press it the hardest because that’s what the client wants."

Thailand’s traditional massage, or "Nuad Thai," is a deeply rooted cultural practice, recognized by UNESCO as an intangible heritage, but experts highlight that while many massage therapists are accredited, informal practitioners, especially in tourist areas, may lack sufficient training.