Doctors warn against ‘dangerous' viral Chinese sleep hack: ‘A physics experiment on your spinal cord'

New York Post

a day ago

It's not that kind of swingers party.
How far would you go to get a good night's rest? Would you take supplements, journal or do a fire-burning ritual? How about swinging from your neck in a public park?
That's precisely what some senior citizens in the northern Chinese city of Shenyang are doing — and it's going viral.
6 People in China are swinging from their necks in public parks to get better sleep.
Future Publishing via Getty Images
Footage shared on social media shows older adults looping U‑shaped belts attached to playground bars or trees around their chins and gently swaying back and forth like lemurs, seemingly without a care in the world.
While it's certainly not a sight you wanna stumble across in the middle of the night, locals swear by this bizarre practice as a cure for sleep-related issues and spinal discomfort.
The brains behind this operation is Sun Rongchun, 57, who developed the device to treat his cervical spondylosis — a common, age-related condition that can cause headaches, dizziness and insomnia, the Economic Times reported.
Rongchun has trademarked the device and applied to have it patented — until then, he comes to the park every day to educate the public.
6 Footage shared on social media shows older adults looping U‑shaped belts attached to playground bars or trees around their chins and gently swaying back and forth like lemurs.
REUTERS
It seems his spinal exercises are really taking off.
'In the past, my cervical spine was in bad shape, so I was uncomfortable lying down every night, but after a few days, it worked pretty well,' one fan told local media.
'Now, my throat condition is better and the uncomfortable symptoms are completely gone. I've been doing this exercise for two years already.'
6 Sun Rongchun, 57, developed the device to treat his cervical spondylosis.
Future Publishing via Getty Images
It's unclear exactly how this device works on the spine — and experts say this is one trick you definitely should not be trying at home.
'People are desperate for better sleep, but no trend is worth risking paralysis or stroke,' said certified sleep science coach Rosie Osmun of Amerisleep.com.
'Hanging any part of your body, let alone your neck, is biomechanically dangerous. There are safe, research-backed alternatives that actually work.'
6 'In the past, my cervical spine was in bad shape, so I was uncomfortable lying down every night, but after a few days, it worked pretty well,' one participant said.
Future Publishing via Getty Images
Done wrong, this trend can result in nerve damage, spinal injury or even death from restricted blood flow to the brain.
There's already been at least one reported incident in which a man died after mistakenly looping the belt around his neck instead of his chin.
6 'Hanging any part of your body, let alone your neck, is biomechanically dangerous,' one expert said.
REUTERS
Human error aside, in a public park, you've also got the elements to contend with.
'Medical traction uses precise grams of force; park-belt swinging is essentially an uncontrolled physics experiment on your spinal cord,' said physical therapist Dr. Jennifer Miller, who is affiliated with Amerisleep.
According to Osmun, the only reason these sleeping hacks gain traction is because 'they're dramatic, visually striking and falsely promise quick fixes for chronic problems.'
6 There's already been at least one reported incident in which a man died after mistakenly looping the belt around his neck instead of his chin.
REUTERS
If you're looking for a soothing, rocking sensation to make you feel like a baby before bed — get a hammock.
Otherwise, you might be in for the forever sleep.
'Sleep is essential for life, but so is safety,' Osmun said.
'The solution isn't in belts, but in balance: real strategies grounded in science, not spectacle.'