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Today, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) advised consumers to immediately stop using a massager that is associated with life-threatening injuries — including a death and a near-strangulation. The device is the ShoulderFlex Massager. The FDA even recommends disposing of the parts separately to make sure the device is never used.

Time to check the closet!

The text of the notice is below.

The ShoulderFlex Massager, distributed by King International in Beaverton, OR, is a personal massage device designed for home use to provide deep tissue massage to the neck, shoulder and back while the user lies on a flat surface. It consists of a massage unit that sits beneath the neck, a handheld controller, a memory foam pillow and a machine-washable sleeve. The device contains a rotating bar with removable massage “fingers” that may be adjusted by the user to customize the massage area and depth.

Picture: FDA

Purpose:

The purpose of this Safety Communication is to urge consumers and health care professionals to stop using the ShoulderFlex Massager because of the risk of strangulation or other serious injury.

Summary of Problem and Scope:

The FDA is aware of reports to the Consumer Product Safety Commission of one death and one near-strangulation associated with the ShoulderFlex Massager. These incidents occurred when a necklace and clothing became caught in a piece of the device that rotates during use. The FDA is aware of two other reports of incidents involving clothing and hair becoming caught in the device.

The FDA is concerned that the ShoulderFlex Massager presents serious health risks. Hair, clothing, and jewelry can become entangled in the massage device and cause serious injury or death.

King International has distributed 11,934 devices since Oct. 18, 2003. The devices were sold at various stores and online retailers in the United States.

Recommendations for Consumers:

  • Do NOT use the ShoulderFlex massager.
  • Dispose of the device components separately so that the massager cannot be reassembled and used.

Recommendations for Health Care Providers:

  • Advise your patients NOT to use the ShoulderFlex massager.

FDA Activities:

The FDA is evaluating King International’s plan for recall of the ShoulderFlex Massager, which may lead to additional action or communication by the FDA or King International.

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