Fact Check: Neck massage leaves customer paralysed? Viral video is scripted - India Today

[Fact Check Bureau]

A video making the rounds on social media purports to show how a “barber twists neck during head massage, leaves customer paralysed.” In the video, a man can be giving a neck massage. After the barber twists the man’s neck, he starts convulsing, and subsequently appears paralysed.

India Today Fact Check found that this was a scripted video, made to spread awareness. It does not show a real incident.


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Our Probe

Reverse searching keyframes from the viral video led us to a longer version of this video uploaded to a YouTube channel named “3rd eye”. This video contained a disclaimer at the end, stating it was made for entertainment and educational purposes.

The video description reads, “Disclaimer: Thank you for watching! Please be aware that this channel features scripted dramas and parodies of aware people in different situations. This channel brings social awareness videos. These short films are for entertainment purposes only!”

We also found another scripted video on this YouTube channel, shot in the same salon as the one seen in the viral video. This time, a barber ends up leaving his customer injured while shaving his beard. Interestingly, the barber in this video was also in the viral video, acting as a customer waiting for his turn in the salon.

It is noteworthy that a 30-year-old Karnataka man recently suffered a stroke after his barber forcefully twisted his neck during a head massage. The victim was rushed to the hospital. It took him nearly two months to recover fully after the incident.

The New Indian Express article about this incident quoted Dr Sreekanta Swamy, Senior Consultant in Neurology at Aster RV Hospital, saying, “Rapid, unscientific neck twists — whether by barbers or individuals themselves can cause blood vessel tears, potentially leading to life-threatening strokes.” The doctors also added that sudden, forceful movements around the neck can lead to strokes, paralysis, or even death if not properly diagnosed or treated.

It is thus, clear that while health experts warn that cracking or twisting of the neck can indeed have serious consequences, the viral video does not show a real incident.



Published By:

Pathikrit Sanyal


Published On:

Nov 22, 2024



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