A young chartered accountancy student in Ahmedabad, identified as Shweta, found her life disrupted by severe and persistent pain in her upper back and neck. The 22-year-old experienced such debilitating stiffness that it began to interfere with her sleep and restrict normal neck movement.
A City-Wide Epidemic Among Youth
This case is far from isolated. Orthopaedic specialists and physiotherapists across Ahmedabad report a significant increase in young patients, many in their teens and twenties, presenting with multiple musculoskeletal problems directly linked to excessive smartphone and device usage. Dr. Nehal Shah, Principal of SBB College of Physiotherapy, explained that Shweta was referred to them after consulting several doctors. The root cause was traced to her screen habits.
"The girl was already working with a firm, and by her own admission, was using one screen or another for almost all waking hours," Dr. Shah said. "The angle at which the device was used caused the upper back muscles and neck muscles to strain unnaturally, causing the chronic pain." Fortunately, a targeted treatment plan involving specific exercises provided Shweta with relief.
Alarming Data on Screen Time and Health
A recent study conducted by students of Ahmedabad Physiotherapy College under Parul University offers concrete data on this worrying trend. The survey of over 250 patients revealed startling screen time statistics:
- Nearly half used phones for up to six hours daily.
- 22% reported usage between six to nine hours.
- 7% were on their phones for nine to twelve hours.
- About 4% used devices for more than twelve hours a day.
The research focused on paraesthesia—sensations like tingling, pins and needles, or numbness. Over half of the respondents reported experiencing tingling or numbness in their hands, indicating a high prevalence of self-perceived paraesthesia among heavy smartphone users.
Posture is Key: The "Text Neck" Problem
Dr. Shah referenced an earlier study on neck strain, where researchers photographed smartphone users. They found that the typical forward-head posture adopted while looking down at a phone for prolonged periods places immense strain on neck muscles. This posture increases the effective weight of the head and puts undue pressure on the cervical spine.
Dr. Jayshree Sutaria, a senior lecturer at Govt Physiotherapy College, emphasised that treatment duration varies based on symptom severity, lasting from a week to several weeks. "The prolonged usage of digital devices is often causing short-term and long-term musculoskeletal issues," she warned. "As it is connected to livelihood or studies, it often goes unchecked until it starts hampering daily functioning."
The consensus among Ahmedabad's physiotherapy experts is clear: as digital device immersion deepens, proactive measures on posture, regular breaks, and ergonomics are crucial to prevent a generation from being hunched over in pain.
