Neck massagers

[Niamh15]

Hi I’m new here can you use the neck massagers if you have AFib anyone know

[CDreamer]

I have a full massage bed and use it every day. I find it relaxing and never even had a problem. Anything that promotes relaxation I find beneficial.

I also see a chiropractor every few weeks and there is an adjustment he does that can both trigger and stop AF so my only comment would be that you know what you are doing if using a hand held massage device. I have had a lot of problems with my neck since a car accident back in 1993 and without mobilisation, my neck locks solid so I need daily stretches and exercises to keep it in good working order.

[Andyt36 in reply to CDreamer]

Interesting that it can both trigger and stop your AF. How does that work?

[Niamh15 in reply to Andyt36]

What about these massagers that go round your neck they are operated with batteries very much like tense.

[CDreamer in reply to Andyt36]

If certain vertebrae in the cranial part of the spine - I think it is C3/4? - are out of line they can interfere with nerve signals within the vagus nerve - which can trigger AF. Mine often get skewed as a result of stretched tendons in my after car accident resulting in a moderate whiplash injury of the collision. I need adjustment - not massage which would be totally inaffective to align the vertebrae but do ease muscle tension in the neck region which is also a result of the muscles having to work much harder because the tendons are permanently damaged.

Note the Anatomy explains exactly how:-

teachmeanatomy.info/head/cr...

In particular note:-

Two other branches arise in the thorax:

Left recurrent laryngeal nerve – it hooks under the arch of the aorta, ascending to innervate the majority of the intrinsic muscles of the larynx.

Cardiac branches – these innervate regulate heart rate and provide visceral sensation to the organ.

The vagal trunks enter the abdomen via the oesophageal hiatus, an opening in the diaphragm.