16-05-2025
When Posture Becomes A Pain: The Digital Epidemic Malaysians Are Ignoring
Physiotherapist and Manager of Rehabilitation Medicine Services at Sunway Medical Centre Velocity (SMCV), Thomas Chua Wei Yeh shares that one of the most common postural issues that they always see is forward head posture and this will increase the load on the cervical spine from 5 to 22 kilograms - Credit: SMCV
Consultant Orthopaedic, Trauma, and Spine Surgeon at Sunway Medical Centre Velocity (SMCV), Dr Chang Kok Chun explains that when someone develops text neck, the muscles and joints in the neck undergo continuous strain due to poor posture - Credit: SMCV
Malaysians now rank among the highest digital device users in Asia with an daily average screen time of 8 hours and 17 minutes, and this has resulting in the rise of "text neck syndrome" in our country - Credit: Sunway Medical Centre Velocity (SMCV)
KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 (Bernama) -- Malaysians ranked among the highest digital device users in Asia, with an average daily screen time of eight hours and 17 minutes, which may result in 'text neck syndrome', a relatively new condition that has emerged post-pandemic with noticeable rise in cases among teenagers and young adults.
The country also has the third-highest TikTok usage in Southeast Asia, averaging 121 videos per day.
Sunway Medical Centre Velocity (SMCV), in a statement, stated that Malaysia's high digital consumption, especially among the younger population, is a significant contributor to the rise of text neck syndrome.
It said that the Health Ministry reported that 67 per cent of Malaysians experienced neck pain at some point, making it the second most common musculoskeletal issue, yet many dismissed it as temporary or stress-related.
"Poor workplace ergonomics further compounded the issue, as many endured long hours at non-conducive desk setups. This prolonged strain was increasingly linked to higher rates of sick leave in corporate environments, reduced productivity, and declining workplace performance,' the statement read.
Consultant Orthopaedic, Trauma, and Spine Surgeon at SMCV, Dr Chang Kok Chun was quoted in the statement as saying that text neck syndrome occurs when there is a repetitive stress injury caused by prolonged forward head posture when looking down at screens.
'When someone developed text neck, the muscles and joints in the neck underwent continuous strain due to poor posture. Over time, this caused muscle and joint fatigue, discomfort, and if left untreated, could even result in structural damage,' he explained.
Dr Chang also urged Malaysians to pay closer attention to the pain they were feeling and avoid ignoring it to prevent other health complications. He noted that the pain would initially provoke protective muscle spasms, visible in X-rays as straightening of the spine.
'If ignored, this could lead to premature degeneration of the spine, including thinning of the disc between vertebrae, and the development of bone spurs and facet joint arthritis over time, also known as cervical spondylosis (wear and tear of the joint and discs in the neck),' he warned.
