Young man destroys cervical spine because of an inseparable object

The habit of using the phone for a long time leads to "turtle neck" in young people, hunchback of the spine, and spinal cord damage. Notably, a survey of 425 students using phones showed that the rate of "turtle neck" syndrome was up to 46.6%, and the rate of head misalignment was up to 69.2%.

Neck kyphosis because of phone

Mr. An (38 years old, living in Ho Chi Minh City) went to a private hospital for examination because of neck pain, hunchback, and weak limbs. The doctor diagnosed him with severe cervical disc herniation from C3 to C7, cervical kyphosis, and spinal cord compression and damage at C5 and C6.

In addition, his lumbar spine also had a herniated disc and severe nerve compression at the L4 and L5 levels. According to his story, he often used his phone for more than 8 hours a day.

The case of Ms. Vu Minh Hang (31 years old, Hanoi) went to Bach Mai Hospital (Hanoi) for examination because of pain and inability to turn her neck. The doctor ordered an MRI scan and determined that the patient had degeneration from C2 to C7 vertebrae, nerve compression causing numbness in the hands and difficulty moving.

Ms. Hang sells online, uses her phone and computer 10-15 hours a day on average, and has almost no time to move or exercise, which is the reason for her bent spine.

According to Dr. Hoang Trung Dung, Center for Musculoskeletal System, Bach Mai Hospital (Hanoi), the habit of abusing the phone as an "inseparable object" causes many health problems, including bone and joint problems.

Doctor Dung examines a patient. Photo: BSCC.

According to Dr. Dung, the cervical spine is the uppermost part of the spine, consisting of 7 vertebrae from C1 to C7 stacked on top of each other, consisting of: vertebrae, discs, muscles and ligaments, with the special function of supporting the head and allowing flexible movement.

Effects of bending over for too long

According to Dr. Dung's analysis, bowing your head for many hours, especially when using a phone or computer, can cause negative effects on the cervical spine including:

Causes neck and shoulder pain: Bowing your head for many hours causes the muscles in the cervical spine to stiffen, leading to pain. This condition, if prolonged, can cause neck and shoulder pain syndrome, affecting the quality of life.

Increased pressure on the cervical spine: When the head is bowed, the weight of the head will be placed on the cervical spine, causing greater pressure than in an upright position. The greater the angle of bowing, the greater the pressure.

Causes cervical spondylosis: Continuous pressure on the cervical spine can lead to degeneration of the spine and discs. Cervical spondylosis causes pain and limits mobility of the cervical spine.

Causing cervical disc herniation: Excessive pressure on the disc can cause the disc to herniate, compressing the nerve and causing pain to radiate to the shoulder and down the arm.

At the 2nd Vietnam Physical Therapy Conference held in Hanoi, experts also warned about the "turtle neck" syndrome caused by the use of technological devices. A study by experts from the Faculty of Rehabilitation Engineering (Hong Bang University) pointed out the problem of cervical spine disease caused by phone abuse.

The study analyzed a number of factors related to "turtle neck" syndrome in a survey of 425 students in Ho Chi Minh City when using mobile phones.

The results showed that the rate of "turtle neck" syndrome was 46.6%, head center of gravity was 69.2%, 75.3% of students had an average neck angle of 31-45 degrees, 75.8% of subjects chose the wrong position to use the phone leading to headaches and pain in the cervical spine.

Researchers have determined that the cause of "turtle neck" syndrome is due to excessive phone use and an excessively low average neck flexion angle...

To prevent disease, Dr. Dung recommends that to prevent bone and joint syndrome related to phones and computers, people should avoid using phones for long periods of time.

Office workers and technology workers who have to use computers and phones should do exercises to stretch their necks. The best position to use the phone is to sit with your back straight, you should change the angle of your neck in many different positions, place the device appropriately and avoid long-term static positions.

Source: https://giadinh.suckhoedoisong.vn/nguoi-tre-tan-pha-cot-song-co-vi-mot-vat-bat-ly-than-172250326221130734.htm