Leg and Foot Injuries Account for 46.8%
More Than Half Are Burns
Insufficient Safety Warnings on Heated Massagers in the Market
Cases of burns caused by the use of heated leg and foot massagers have been steadily increasing.
On November 21, the Korea Consumer Agency analyzed data from the Consumer Injury Surveillance System (CISS) over the past three years and found that there were a total of 2,161 reported cases of injuries related to electric leg and foot massagers. The number of related incidents has shown a consistent upward trend, with 506 cases in 2022, 551 cases in 2023, 640 cases last year, and 464 cases this year (from January to October).
By affected body part, among 438 cases where the injury site was identified during electric massage use, the 'leg and foot' accounted for the largest proportion at 46.8% (205 cases). This was followed by the 'torso (chest, abdomen, buttocks, etc.)' at 16.7% (73 cases), and the 'head and face' at 13.5% (59 cases).
An analysis of the symptoms for leg and foot injuries showed that 'burns' accounted for more than half at 55.1% (113 cases). 'Skin and subcutaneous tissue damage' made up 21.5% (44 cases), while 'bruises' accounted for 7.3% (15 cases).
A safety and labeling survey of 10 heated leg and foot massager products currently on the market found that all products met safety standards.
However, warnings to prevent low-temperature burns and skin diseases were found to be insufficient. None of the products surveyed had adequate labeling for the prevention of low-temperature burns. Some products also lacked warnings about the risk of skin damage or other potential hazards.
The Korea Consumer Agency advised, "To prevent safety accidents such as low-temperature burns when using massagers, do not use them directly on bare skin, follow the recommended usage time for each product, and do not use them continuously for more than 30 minutes."
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