A sedentary lifestyle is already associated with various health problems, and a new study published in BMC Public Health adds neck pain to that list.

The study shows that prolonged sitting can significantly increase the risk of developing serious neck pain. Globally, about 70% of people experience neck pain at least once in their lifetime.

Chinese researchers analyzed data from 25 studies involving 43,184 participants from 13 countries. Their results show a clear link between prolonged periods of sitting and an increased risk of neck pain.

Among activities involving sitting in front of screens, mobile phone use poses the greatest risk. People who spend a lot of time on their phones are 82% more likely to experience neck pain than those who use them less. Using a computer increases the risk by 23%, while watching TV has no significant effect.

The duration of sitting is also important. Sitting for at least 4 hours a day increases the risk of neck pain by 45%, and sitting for more than 6 hours increases the risk by almost 88% compared to people who lead a less sedentary lifestyle.

The study also found that the risk is higher in women than in men.

Posture plays a key role. Many people tend to hunch their shoulders and bend their necks while using phones, tablets, and computers, which puts additional strain on the neck and upper back.

A sedentary lifestyle can lead to a number of physiological changes, including increased pressure on the intervertebral discs and reduced blood flow to the neck. These changes, along with muscle imbalance and reduced joint mobility, contribute to the development of neck pain. | BGNES