Back to school season | Do you experience cervical pain and scoliosis after studying for a long time? Correct posture can help you stay away from the invisible "neck" enemy!

With the start of the new school year, students are returning to campus and engaging in intense study life. However, after studying for a long time, many students will feel discomfort in their cervical spine and back. Studying hard for a long time and developing wrong sitting postures inadvertently, like invisible pressure, quietly pose a great threat to the health of students' cervical spine and other spinal parts.

Problems such as stiffness, pain, and scoliosis of the cervical spine not only affect learning efficiency, but may also have adverse effects on health. So, how can students prevent cervical and spinal diseases? Tadpole Jun invited Sun Peiyu, deputy director and chief physician of the Department of Orthopedics at Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, to answer related questions~

Are students more likely to suffer from cervical spondylosis if they study at a desk for long periods of time?

With the development of the times and changes in lifestyle, the characteristics of cervical spondylosis are also changing significantly. In the past, it was generally believed both internationally and domestically that people under 30 years old should not be diagnosed with cervical spondylosis because degeneration and aging of the cervical spine usually occur after the age of 30.

However, this concept has changed in recent years. In the past decade, many middle school students have experienced changes in cervical curvature, and some have even experienced cervical instability. According to clinical symptoms and imaging manifestations, many primary and secondary school students can be diagnosed with cervical spondylosis . Therefore, it is recommended that students combine work and rest to avoid the occurrence of health problems such as cervical spondylosis.

In addition to cervical spine problems, scoliosis is also a problem that needs attention. Long-term poor sitting posture will have adverse effects on the spine and may lead to scoliosis. Therefore, it is very important for students to maintain a correct sitting posture, keep their chest and head up, sit firmly, avoid leaning to one side or rotating the body for a long time, and maintain an upright posture and a neutral position of the spine for study or work.

Does scoliosis have a big impact on students’ health?

There is a diagnostic standard for scoliosis. A scoliosis below 10 degrees is considered spinal asymmetry, while a scoliosis greater than 10 degrees is diagnosed . If the angle of scoliosis is large, it may affect the body's appearance, respiratory function, and exercise ability, and may even cause pain in severe cases.

Although mild scoliosis may not cause obvious symptoms and problems, it still has adverse effects, such as affecting appearance and causing muscle soreness . During learning, maintain correct posture to avoid scoliosis as much as possible. Once a problem occurs, seek help from a regular medical institution.

Can I go to a massage parlor to get a massage to relieve the discomfort in my cervical spine ?

Tuina massage is a method of TCM to treat cervical spondylosis, which can effectively relieve symptoms, but its indications need to be noted. Cervical instability, osteoporosis, and acute cervical trauma are not suitable for massage, which may aggravate the symptoms; cervical spondylosis of the cervical type, radiculopathy, and vertebral artery type are more suitable for massage. TCM says that it can relax muscles and activate blood circulation, unblock meridians and activate collaterals. In combination with relevant techniques, heat can be generated in the massage area, which can also dispel wind and dampness, and relieve symptoms.

If the patient has symptoms of cervical discomfort, it is best to go to a regular medical institution for treatment to ensure the rationality and safety of the diagnosis and treatment plan. If you want to relax after studying or working, you should also choose a qualified institution to avoid unnecessary risks.

Are there any postures and exercises in daily life and work that are beneficial to the cervical spine?

When using a computer for a long time, you can raise the computer to avoid looking down at the screen for a long time; when using a mobile phone for a long time, you can adjust the posture of using the mobile phone. Under the premise of ensuring safety, raise the mobile phone to the top of the head , and alternate between lowering and raising the head to avoid cervical discomfort. In addition, using a mobile phone stand is also a way to improve posture.

Swimming, playing badminton and flying kites basically involve lifting your head, which helps to relax the cervical spine or restore the normal physiological curvature of the cervical spine. If conditions permit, you can participate in these exercises more often to maintain the health of the cervical spine.

Planning: Li Peiyuan

Editor: Dong Xiaoxian

Reviewer: Liu Kun and Li Peiyuan