Sitting and other ongoing or repetitive activity is costing us, according to consistent research. The Cleveland Clinic notes we ask a lot in particular of our necks, which each support a head that weighs about 10 pounds. But that’s not just an everyday inconvenience—medical data in one 2020 report suggested neck pain is a leading cause of disability globally.

While we know that staring down at our phones for hours not be the best for our bodies (or our mental health), five researchers in China with expertise in physical education and ergonomics science recently looked into how serious this really is. Citing how lifestyle changes have especially shifted since the Covid-19 pandemic, coupled with our increased use of technology, the team reviewed 25 studies, including data from more than 43,000 individuals and 13 countries in total. Their findings were recently published in the peer-vetted journal, BMC Public Health.

The study highlights that neck pain— something 70% of people experience at some point—doesn’t only impact quality of life. It affects healthcare costs, too, as the “annual expenditure on neck and back pain is an astounding $87.6 billion” in the U.S.

Defined in the text as “low energy expenditure while seated during waking hours,” sedentary behavior can create certain issues in the body, such as “increased intervertebral disc pressure, reduced neck blood flow, imbalance in neck muscle strength, and diminished neck joint mobility.”

Sedentary behavior created a “notable risk factor” for neck pain, concluded the researchers, highlighting the following activities:

  • Mobile phone usage increased neck pain odds by 82%
  • Computer usage increased neck pain odds by 23%
  • Watching television did not present a significant risk

When we use mobile phones or computers, we tend to “adopt postures involving bending the neck and slouching the shoulders,” reported the study.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, it was also confirmed that longer durations of low movement also increased chances of experiencing neck pain, particularly if the inactivity time exceeded four or six hours per day.

Their research also suggested that women and employees—when compared to men and adolescents as examples—saw elevated risks for experiencing neck pain connected with sedentary behavior. This, the researchers suggested, indicates “the necessity for targeted preventative measures, especially for high-risk groups.”

The findings emphasized “the urgent need for public health initiatives that encourage the reduction of sedentary behaviors and the promotion of physical activity, ultimately to enhance neck health and alleviate the worldwide prevalence of neck pain,” concluded the study.

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Molly Jasinski
Molly Jasinski has worked as a writer, editor and social media manager for almost 15 years. She previously worked as an editor for the magazine Birds & Blooms. She’s also held other positions at Trusted Media Brands, working on direct-to-consumer books, editing special interest publications, and assisting with digital production and social me...
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Molly Jasinski