A Thai female singer died from a spinal cord infection caused by having a massage for her shoulder pain.

Phing Chyada, 20, visited the massage parlour in Udon Thani province, northern Thailand, on October 5, hoping to ease the persistent ache in her shoulders.

The masseur reportedly twisted her neck several times to loosen the knots, and Phing left the shop feeling fine initially.

She returned to the same massage parlour when the pain kept returning. However, her health dramatically worsened over the next weeks as she suffered excruciating pain and limb weakness from the sessions.

Detailing her symptoms, Phing wrote online: 'One week later, I started feeling numbness in my arm. I went back to the same therapist in the same room, and they twisted my neck again. Two weeks later, the pain became so severe I couldn't lie down properly.'

The young woman was confined in different hospitals and was prescribed numerous medications to manage her symptoms. Doctors said there were no broken bones in her neck, but they discovered that her spinal cord was swollen.

On November 23, Phing was rushed to the Udon Thani Hospital, where doctors pierced a hole through her windpipe to help her breathe with a tracheostomy. She was then transferred to the ICU on November 27 due to an infection that had spread from her spinal cord throughout her bloodstream.

The singer passed away at 6:08 am on Sunday December 8, days after experience cerebral oedema and thrombocytopenia, or low blood platelet count.

Following Phing's death, Thai neurologist Dr Thiravat Hemachudha warned the public against getting neck massages, which he said could lead to paralysis.

He said: 'People should avoid receiving a massage on the neck or spine. Those who develop headache, vomiting, dizziness or weakness in arms and legs should see a doctor immediately.

'In the worst case scenario, massages can lead to broken bones in the neck and even paralysis.

'There are at least 55 document cases of patients aged 21 to 60 developing paralysis due to cerebral infarction after undergoing cervical spine adjustments.

'I have one patient. who developed paralysis on the right side of his body and was hospitalised for a month after undergoing neck twisting massages three times a day.

'This type of massage can impair vision and balance, with the severity of symptoms depending on the intensity and frequency of the manipulation.'

The medic added that obese people or those suffering high blood pressure were at higher risk of paralysis from neck massages.

Dr Somchaichot Piyawatwela, chief of the Udon Thani Public Health Office, said in a press conference on December 9, said the shop where the singer had received her massaged had the correct paperwork.

He said: 'All seven masseurs had undergone training and possessed licences.'

A day before Phing's death, Singaporean tourist Lee Mun Tuck died during an oil massage on holiday island Phuket.

The risks associated with Thai massage have not been extensively studied.

Though the unregulated profession is generally considered safe, there have been cases of adverse effects - and even deaths - during or after Thai massage sessions.

The movements involved in the massage can elevate heart rates, potentially leading to cardiovascular complications. There are also risks of muscle strain or spinal injuries if the masseur is untrained.