Stop Using ShoulderFlex Massager, Says FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released a safety alert warning consumers not to use the ShoulderFlex Massager, citing risk of strangulation. This warning comes on the heels of reports to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) of one death and one near-strangulation when a necklace and a piece of clothing became caught in part of the device that rotates. In addition, the CPSC also received two reports of users’ hair or pieces of clothing becoming caught in the rotating device, causing injury. The manufacturer is currently putting together a recall proposal, and afterwards the FDA will decide whether further action is warranted.

The CPSC also received two reports of users' hair or pieces of clothing becoming caught in the rotating device.

The ShoulderFlex Massager is manufactured by King International, and is a very popular machine designed to give a deep tissue massage to a user while the individual lays flat on the ground. The machine has a rotating bar with fingers that can be adjusted for the preferred massage. Costing around $140, almost twelve thousand massagers have been sold throughout the United States since October, 2003. The FDA clarified its position by urging consumers and medical professionals not to use or recommend use of the ShoulderFlex Massager and to dispose of the device components so that it can never be reassembled and used.

If you or a loved one has been injured due to the ShoulderFlex Massager or another consumer product, you may be eligible to participate in a lawsuit against the manufacturer. For a free evaluation, contact an experienced product liability attorney to find out if you can pursue legal recourse and compensation for your injuries.