24/07/2025
▲ A young man developed 'dropped head syndrome' after years of gaming on his phone.
Doctors say this will happen more often as screen time soars.
In 2023, a 25-year-old man in Japan developed a severe case of "dropped head syndrome" after years of excessive smartphone use while gaming, marking a chilling example of how digital habits can physically deform the body.
The condition, typically linked to neurological disorders, arose in this case from extreme muscle weakness in the neck due to prolonged, downward bending.
Over time, this unnatural posture led to spinal deformities and scar-like tissue buildup.
The man, who had withdrawn from society after experiencing severe bullying as a teen, spent years confined to his room in a posture that gradually made it impossible to lift his head.
After traditional treatments like neck braces failed, doctors turned to surgery-removing damaged vertebrae and inserting screws and metal rods to realign his spine.
Six months post-op, the patient was able to hold his head upright again, with no recurring symptoms a year later. Published in JOS Case Reports, the case highlights a growing public health concern: the physical toll of tech addiction.
Experts warn that with rising smartphone usage, particularly among isolated youth, more cases like this could emerge unless awareness and posture hohito improun dromatinallu
