Dangerous "Neck-Hanging" Fitness Trend Alarms Chinese Doctors, Risks Paralysis

Dangerous "Neck-Hanging" Fitness Trend Alarms Chinese Doctors, Risks Paralysis A dangerous fitness trend where people hang by their necks from trees is spreading among young people in China, prompting urgent warnings from doctors about severe and permanent spinal injuries [122710]. The activity, known as "neck-hanging exercise," involves participants suspending their full body weight from tree branches using their head. It is an attempt to mimic professional cervical traction therapy, a medical treatment for neck pain administered by specialists [122710]. Doctors state that performing such traction without supervision uses uncontrolled force and can lead to ligament damage, paralysis, and even stroke [122710]. The trend follows a reported rise in cervical spine disorders in China. An official 2024 health report indicates over 200 million people in the country suffer from such conditions, with more than 40% of patients under the age of 30 [122710]. Despite the clear medical dangers, the practice continues to gain popularity through online platforms [122710]. In a separate but related incident highlighting the risks of extreme exercise, a 23-year-old woman in China's Zhejiang province stopped menstruating after an intense workout regimen caused rapid weight loss [46995]. Hospital tests revealed her hormone levels were comparable to those of a typical 50-year-old woman [46995]. Doctors diagnosed her with related health deficiencies and instructed her to stop all exercise immediately to begin recovery [46995]. Medical experts strongly advise against attempting any form of unsupervised spinal manipulation or extreme physical regimens, emphasizing that professional therapy relies on controlled, measured force applied by trained specialists [122710]. **Dangerous "Neck-Hanging" Trend Alarms Doctors in China** **Young Woman's Extreme Fitness Halts Her Periods**