26/11/2025
With an average screen time of 8 hours and 17 minutes daily, Malaysians now rank among the highest digital device users in Asia. This will result in ‘text neck syndrome,’ a relatively new condition that has emerged, especially post-pandemic with noticeable rise in cases among teenagers and young adults.
This growing health issue is a repetitive stress injury caused by prolonged forward head posture while looking down at screens. When someone develops text neck, the muscles and joints in the neck undergo continuous strain due to poor posture. Over time, this causes muscle and joint fatigue, discomfort, and if left untreated, may even result in structural damage.
Why Malaysians are at high risk?
Malaysia’s high digital consumption, particularly among the younger population, is a significant contributor to the rise of text neck syndrome. The country records the third-highest TikTok usage in Southeast Asia, with an average watch of 121 videos a day. Combined with long hours at desks or classroom, and the lack of ergonomic awareness, this creates the perfect situation for postural strain.
One of the most common postural issues we see is forward head posture. Misalignment occurs when one tilts the head forward by 45 degrees which increases the load on the cervical spine from only 5 to 22 kilograms. This adds over 1,000 hours of strain on an average user’s spine in just a year, which can lead to symptoms such as neck and shoulder pain, headaches, dizziness, spinal nerve irritation resulting in tingling sensation of the hands and even early degenerative arthritis of the neck.
Younger patients are more at risk, mainly due to their frequent and prolonged use of smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Text neck is now both an occupational hazard for office workers and a lifestyle-related issue for those who are constantly glued to their devices.
Poor workplace ergonomics further compounds the issue, as many endure long hours at non-conducive desk setups. This prolonged strain is increasingly linked to higher rates of sick leave in corporate environments, reduced productivity, and declining workplace performance. The Ministry of Health reports that 67% of Malaysians experience neck pain at some point in their lives, making it the second most common musculoskeletal complaint in the country, yet many dismisses the discomfort as temporary or stress related.
https://healthcaretoday.com.my/is-your-phone-a-pain-in-the-neck.html
With an average screen time of 8 hours and 17 minutes daily, Malaysians now rank among the highest digital device users in Asia. This will result in ‘text neck syndrome,’ a relatively new condition that has emerged, especially post-pandemic with noticeabl
