Doctors Sound Alarm as Dangerous "Neck-Hanging" Fitness Trend Spreads in China

Doctors Sound Alarm as Dangerous "Neck-Hanging" Fitness Trend Spreads in China A dangerous new fitness trend is spreading among young people in China, with doctors warning it can cause severe spinal damage, including paralysis and stroke [122710]. The activity, known as "neck-hanging exercise," involves individuals suspending their full body weight by their head from tree branches in an attempt to mimic professional medical therapy [122710]. This trend follows a reported rise in cervical spine disorders in the country. An official 2024 health report states that over 200 million people in China suffer from such conditions, with more than 40% of patients under the age of 30 [122710]. Medical experts are issuing urgent warnings against the practice. They emphasize that professional cervical traction therapy is a controlled, measured treatment applied by specialists. Unsupervised spinal traction, like the viral trend, can lead to permanent injury, including severe ligament damage [122710]. Despite the clear health warnings, the activity continues to gain popularity through social media platforms [122710]. Dangerous "Neck-Hanging" Trend Alarms Doctors in China