Due to COVID-19, the use of smartphones is increasing as online and non-face-to-face methods are rapidly spreading in various fields such as economy, culture, medical care, and education, including social activities. A smartphone can conveniently solve many things, but there are also psychological, physical, and social negative aspects, which negatively affect the cervical spine (neck bone), which balances our body.
Our neck bones should be in the form of a gentle curve forward like the letter 'C'. However, the symptom of transforming into a single or inverted C shape due to bad posture is called turtle neck syndrome. From the appearance, it is called Turtle Neck Syndrome because the center of the neck is protruded in front of the body like a turtle, and it is also called a straight neck.
In the past, it was mainly found in people who looked down a lot or who looked at monitors, but due to the recent development of IT technology and the spread of electronic devices, electronic devices such as smartphones and tablet PCs have often been used for a long time, so they are often treated for turtle neck syndrome.
In fact, according to data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, the number of patients treated with turtle neck syndrome in Korea has increased by 46.7% in the past three years.
At first, even if you have the right posture when using a monitor or smartphone, if you use it for a long time, your head gradually lowers and your neck naturally comes out or lengthens, and bones harden, resulting in turtle neck symptoms.
Every time the neck comes forward by 1cm, the neck bone will have a load of 2 to 3kg, which can cause excessive tension in the cervical and shoulder muscles, causing stiff shoulders, pain, and laryngeal headaches.
In the case of people with turtle neck syndrome, the neck can be loaded up to 15kg, which can cause damage by increasing pressure on the intervertebral disc, commonly called disc. Arthritis of the neck bone can also worsen.
X-ray scans confirm and diagnose the condition of the neck bone, and in the beginning, it can be improved by improving lifestyle such as posture correction, but if symptoms worsen, professional rehabilitation treatment can be performed.
In the past, turtle neck syndrome occurred a lot due to age or gender, but it is important to have a proper posture to protect your healthy neck. If you have a neck injury, you can be diagnosed with various diseases such as neck disc or spinal deformation.
In order to prevent turtle neck syndrome in everyday life, you should be careful of the moment when you unconsciously bow your head forward, such as PC, smartphone, reading, and driving. Rather than simply raising your head, you should naturally straighten your shoulders and back, correct the arrangement of your lower neck bones, and then adjust your smartphone or monitor at eye level. If you inevitably need to use a PC or smartphone for a long time, you should perform stretching exercises and stretching, such as tilting your neck back once every 20 to 30 minutes.
Writer: Lucas Kim
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