Doctors report a rise in ‘tech neck’ and other musculoskeletal conditions caused by using devices. SINGAPORE: The head weighs approximately 4kg. However, when it is bent forward by 3cm as when a person looks at a screen or computer, the weight doubles or triples. Neck pain is becoming more common due to the use of technology, sedentary living and poor ergonomics in the workplace. In an article published in January 2023, the National University Health System said that people who use their mobile devices and laptops frequently often have poor posture. This can lead to long-term injuries to the neck and spine. “With the current lifestyle trends, and our society’s preoccupation with gadgets and devices, it is likely that we will see more chronic neck pain patients in the coming year,” said Dr Alex Teo from the National University Hospital. Dr Teo, an associate consultant in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at University Spine Centre, said that treatments for chronic neck pain range from non-operative interventions, such as physiotherapy, acupuncture and injections, to more invasive ones, such as surgery and injections. Bernard Lee, a pain specialist, said that some of the patients he has treated have endured chronic pain for 10 years. Initially, they relied on over the counter medication to provide some relief. “A common misconception is that painkillers cure pain. In reality, they are just a Band-Aid that suppresses our body’s ability feel or generate pain signals. Dr Lee, from Singapore Paincare Centre, said that painkillers do not repair, eliminate, or treat the part of the human body that has been damaged, injured, and/or is causing the discomfort. Researchers in Singapore published a study in 2021, in the Spine Medical Journal, that found neck pain to be more common in Singapore. The researchers said that neck pain can cause significant disability and loss in quality of life. Researchers found that out of 626 people surveyed, 23 percent reported neck pain in the past six months. In the NUHS article by Adjunct Assistant Professor Gamaliel, he said that when using digital devices or doing office work, the neck and lower back tend to be flexed. This can lead to bad posture and pain over time. He said that muscle pain can be the cause of the pain and can be corrected with exercises. “But it can sometimes lead to pinched or irritated nerves, if the intervertebral disks (jellys) slip out and compress the nerve leading to arms and legs.” In these cases, medications or even surgery may be required to unpinch a nerve,” said Professor Tan.

SINGAPORE – The head weighs about 4kg, but when bent forward 3cm, like when a person is peering at a screen, its weight is doubled or tripled.

Musculoskeletal disorders such as neck pain are increasingly prevalent, with prolonged usage of technological devices, sedentary lifestyles and poor ergonomics at work to blame.

In a January 2023 article, the National University Health System (NUHS) said people who frequently use their mobile devices or laptops often have bad posture, which can lead to injuries to their neck and spine in the long term.

“With current lifestyle trends and our societal pre-occupation with our devices and gadgets, it is likely we will see more patients with chronic neck pain in the coming years,” said Dr Alex Teo of the National University Hospital (NUH).

Treatments for chronic neck pain in general range from non-operative options, such as physiotherapy and acupuncture, to more invasive interventions such as injections and surgery, added Dr Teo, who is associate consultant at the University Spine Centre’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.

Pain specialist Bernard Lee said some patients he has seen had endured 10 years of chronic pain. They initially relied on over-the-counter medication for some relief.

“A common mistake or misconception is that painkillers can cure pain, when in fact they are merely a Band-Aid solution that suppress our body’s ability to feel or generate pain signals.

“Painkillers do not repair or eliminate the part of the body that is damaged, injured, or causing the pain,” said Dr Lee from Singapore Paincare Centre.

A study by researchers in Singapore, published in 2021 in the Spine medical journal, found that neck pain is increasingly common here. They said that the condition can result in significant disability and loss of quality of life.  

The researchers found that among 626 individuals surveyed here, about 23 per cent reported neck pain over the past six months.

In the NUHS article, Adjunct Associate Professor Gamaliel Tan said that the neck and lower spine tend to be in a flexed position when using digital devices and with office work. Over time, this can lead to poor posture and pain.

He added that the pain can be muscular in origin, and this can be corrected by exercises.

“But sometimes it can lead to pinched nerves if the intervertebral discs (jelly) slips out and compresses the nerve leading to the arms and legs. In these cases, medication or even surgery might be needed to unpinch the nerve,” said Prof Tan.

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