THE WASHINGTON POST: Why staying still is a pain in the neck. The digital devices causing our suffering

Being sedentary for more than six hours a day greatly increased the risk of neck pain, according to a systematic research review published in the journal BMC Public Health.

The review’s authors looked at data from 25 studies, involving more than 43,000 participants from 13 countries.

They defined sedentary behaviour as seated activity during waking hours that involved low-energy expenditure, including screen-based behaviour such as using mobile phones, computers or watching TV.

Using mobile phones was the riskiest screen-based activity, increasing the likelihood of neck pain by 82 per cent, the researchers found.

More sedentary time also corresponded with an increased risk of developing neck pain.

Compared with not engaging in sedentary behaviour, sitting for four hours increased the risk of neck pain by 45 per cent; for periods exceeding six hours a day, the risk of neck pain is nearly 88 per cent greater than that for non-sedentary individuals.

The researchers hypothesised that widespread use of electronic devices — such as computers, tablets and cellphones - has caused shifts in work and leisure activities and boosted sedentary behaviour.

People often bend their neck and slouch their shoulders when using the devices, the review found.

The researchers also cited lifestyle changes and a shift to online work during the COVID pandemic as further promoting sedentary habits.

These habits, say the researchers, can lead to the muscles in the neck and upper back remaining tense for extended periods, “disrupting the balance of their length and tension.”

They conclude: “This condition can precipitate various musculoskeletal issues, especially in the neck region.”

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