Chinese girl ‘damages neck through excessive use of mobile phone’
Youngster from Qingdao is unable to straighten her neck properly after spending hours each day on her smartphone, according to news website report
A 14-year-old girl from eastern China has permanently damaged her neck after she spent so much time using her smartphone, according to a news website report.
The girl from Qingdao in Shandong province is unable to properly straighten her neck upwards because the alignment of the bones in her upper spine has been deformed, according to the report by the China News Service.
Doctors made the prognosis after studying X-rays. The condition which can cause dizziness and pain, usually only occurs in people aged over 50 as their joints stiffen, according to the article.
The girl’s father, a businessman, was quoted as saying his daughter used to spend nearly all her waking hours playing with her mobile, besides sleeping and attending classes at school.
She liked watching video live-streams and playing simple but addictive computer games.
A hospital doctor was quoted as saying that a 10-year-old boy had suffered similar damage to his spine through excessive use of a phone, making him unable to walk properly.
The girl has returned home after treatment, which has temporarily relieved her symptoms, according to the report.
Doctors said she can now only use her mobile phone for up to two hours per day, otherwise her condition could worsen.
