China's strange new insomnia cure leaves the internet baffled
A video that's been making the rounds on the internet is raising eyebrows and causing concern. The clip, which has already racked up over 6 million views, shows people in a park hanging from their necks with padded belts, gently swinging back and forth.
The caption reads: 'In the city of Shenyang, China, a very unusual method is being used to treat insomnia: people are hanging from their necks with a belt and gently swinging for a few minutes. Those who try it claim their sleep problems have significantly improved.'
This viral video first popped up on April 21st, 2025, on a YouTube channel called AzPost, and it's been shared across social media platforms ever since. The footage was filmed in Shenyang, a city in China's northeast, and shows several locals calmly performing the strange maneuver, secured by a U-shaped belt with soft padding as they sway in the breeze.
— HowThingsWork_ (@HowThingsWork_)
What's the story behind this eyebrow-raising practice?
According to the video's full description, this so-called 'neck-hanging fitness' trend is catching on in the area as a way to address spine and sleep issues. The man behind it all, who claims to have founded the facility where the footage was shot, insists that he developed the method to help people dealing with cervical spine problems.
'I have suffered from cervical spondylosis before – dizziness, headaches, and insomnia that made it hard to sleep,' the facility's founder says in the video.
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'I began researching the causes,' he continues. 'They all stem from small joint dislocations in the cervical spine.' Convinced that this was the source of his troubles, he designed the neck-hanging equipment as a form of self-therapy. 'Now, I spend every day in this park doing public welfare activities, helping many ordinary people solve their cervical spine problems,' he claims.
The video also features one local woman who credits the workout with transforming her health.
'My cervical spine used to be in poor condition, every night when I lay down to sleep, no matter how I positioned myself, it was uncomfortable,' she says. 'After trying it for a few days, I felt the effect was quite good [...] My cervical spine is especially good, and those uncomfortable symptoms at night have completely disappeared,' she adds.
According to her, she's been faithfully practicing the neck-hanging routine for two years.
Credit: X/@HowThingsWork_
Does the practice have any scientific backing?
Despite these glowing testimonials, the practice has no actual research backing, and health experts are waving the red flag. The workout's popularity is reportedly growing among the elderly in mainland China, with claims that it can help with cervical spondylosis and other neck-related issues.
This force can do real damage to the delicate structures in the neck, including nerves, muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
It's a stark reminder that just because something goes viral on social media doesn't mean it's safe or effective.
Instead, it is essential to rely on treatments that have been thoroughly studied and proven safe. That might mean working with a qualified physical therapist for neck pain or exploring evidence-based therapies for insomnia, like cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), which is supported by decades of research.
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