We all know staring at our phones too much isn’t great—but for one young man in Japan, it turned into a serious medical issue.
According to a case published in JOS Case Reports, a 25-year-old developed dropped head syndrome after spending hours every day hunched over his phone.
Yes, you read that right.
The condition, which is super rare (especially in young people), left him unable to lift his head. His neck muscles had weakened so much from constantly looking down, he ended up stuck in a chin-to-chest posture. Ouch.
Before things got that bad, he experienced neck pain, trouble swallowing, and even lost weight rapidly. Doctors found a big bulge on the back of his neck and, after scanning, discovered dislocated vertebrae and scar tissue caused by years of strain.
The man had a tough past—he was active as a kid but became withdrawn after being bullied in his teens, eventually spending most of his time alone on his phone. All that screen time added up in the worst way.
At first, doctors tried neck braces, but when he started feeling numbness, they decided on surgery. Several procedures later (involving screws and rods to stabilize his spine), he began to heal. Six months post-op, he could hold his head up again—and continued to improve a year later.
Medical experts are using this extreme case as a wake-up call. While dropped head syndrome is usually linked to neuromuscular diseases, it turns out too much time in a bent-neck position can do some serious damage too.
So, take this as your reminder to look up once in a while. Your neck will thank you!
Source: JOS Case Reports
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