A survey of 425 phone-using students revealed a 46.6 percent prevalence of "tech neck" syndrome and a 69.2 percent rate of head posture imbalance.

An, 38, from HCM City, decided to see the doctor after suffering from neck pain, a hunched neck, and limb weakness. Doctors diagnosed him with severe cervical disc herniation from C3 to C7, a hunched cervical spine, and compression causing spinal cord damage at C5 and C6.

Additionally, his lumbar spine showed herniation and significant nerve compression at the L4 and L5 levels. He reported using his phone for over eight hours daily.

In another case, Vu Minh Hang, 31, from Hanoi, visited Bach Mai Hospital (Hanoi) due to neck pain and inability to turn her head. Doctors ordered an MRI, confirming degeneration from C2 to C7 vertebrae, nerve compression causing hand numbness, and difficulty moving.

Hang, an online seller, uses her phone and computer for 10-15 hours a day on average, with almost no time for movement or exercise, which is the primary cause of her spinal condition.

Dr Hoang Trung Dung, PhD, from the Musculoskeletal Center at Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi, said the habit of overusing phones as an "inseparable object" causes numerous health issues, including musculoskeletal problems.

Dung said the cervical spine is the uppermost part of the spine, consisting of seven vertebrae from C1 to C7 stacked on top of each other. Its structure includes vertebrae, intervertebral discs, muscles, and ligaments, with a special function to support the head and allow flexible movement.

When the head is bent forward for hours, especially while using a phone or computer, it can cause adverse effects on the cervical spine, including neck and shoulder pain; increased pressure on the cervical spine; cervical spine degeneration; and cervical disc herniation.

At the 2nd Vietnam Scientific Conference on Physical Therapy held in Hanoi, experts also warned about "tech neck" syndrome due to technology use. A study by experts from the Department of Rehabilitation Engineering (Hong Bang University) highlighted the issue of cervical spine disorders from excessive phone use.

A recent survey on 425 students in HCM City about their phone usage showed a 46.6 percent prevalence of "tech neck" syndrome, 69.2 percent had head posture imbalance, 75.3 percent of students had an average neck tilt angle of 31-45 degrees, and 75.8 percent adopted incorrect phone usage postures, leading to headaches and cervical spine pain.

To prevent this condition, Dung recommends avoiding musculoskeletal disorders related to phone and computer use by limiting prolonged phone usage.

Phuong Thuy