The increasing use of mobile phones, particularly the habit of bending the neck for prolonged periods while looking at screens, is causing a sharp rise in cases of cervical spondylitis and frozen shoulder-like symptoms — not just among adults, but alarmingly, in children as young as 10 and even infants. This has been revealed in a recent study conducted by the Pain Medicine Department at PGI Kanpur.

The department studied 100 patients suffering from shoulder stiffness and mobility issues. Most of these individuals were between 18 and 65 years old. In 32 per cent of the cases, cervical spondylitis was found to be the result of the patients spending long hours with their heads tilted downwards, watching mobile screens.

While the condition mimicked frozen shoulder symptoms, the root cause was identified not in the shoulder itself, but in the spinal cord, particularly in the cervical region.

During MRI scans, doctors found no structural issues in the shoulders of these patients. However, further investigation into the spine revealed slipped discs in the C4, C5 and C6 vertebrae, which were compressing nerves and affecting arm and shoulder movement. Patients complained of stiffness, pain, numbness and tingling — classic signs of cervical radicular syndrome.

The consequences are more far-reaching than initially believed. Doctors report that in addition to adults, even children aged 10 to 11 years are showing early signs of shoulder stiffness and nerve-related symptoms. The common thread,  excessive use of mobile phones, often for gaming or watching videos, with their heads perpetually bent. Shockingly, parents are introducing screens to their children even before they turn one year old. Many infants are handed mobile phones to keep them quiet or entertained. These babies, too young to even sit upright, spend long periods watching cartoons and videos with their necks bent forward.

Doctors are calling this an impending health crisis. They note that the human neck is not designed to support the weight of the head in a forward-tilted posture for extended periods. Repeating this strain daily — especially from such an early age — can cause permanent structural and neurological damage.

A young mother, Anjali Srivastava, whose 11-year-old son was recently

diagnosed with early signs of cervical stress, admitted, “We never thought watching cartoons on mobile for hours could cause this kind of harm. It started with neck pain and stiffness, and we thought it was a posture issue, but the doctors said it is much deeper.”

Another parent, Rajesh Tiwari, shared, “I give my one-year-old daughter a phone to distract her when she is cranky. She loves watching cartoons, but now I am worried. We never imagined this could harm her spine.” Patients in their 30s and 40s, especially office workers and students, are reporting increasing discomfort. Ritu Sharma, a 35-year-old software engineer from Kanpur, said, “My shoulder was so stiff I could not even lift my arm properly. I thought it was something to do with my sitting posture at work, but the doctors said it’s due to constant mobile usage.”

According to doctors at PGI Kanpur, most of these symptoms are preventable with awareness and early intervention. They strongly advise limiting screen time for both children and adults. Using mobile phones at eye level instead of bending the neck downwards, taking regular breaks, and practicing neck and shoulder exercises can go a long way in preventing spinal damage.

Dr Chandrashekhar, head of the Pain Medicine Department, warned that the trend is deeply concerning. He said the study is just the beginning, and larger, more detailed research is now planned to study the long-term impact of mobile screen use on different age groups — particularly children.

“What’s alarming is that even when there is no damage to the shoulder joint itself, the nerve compression in the spine can completely mimic frozen shoulder. If not diagnosed in time, this can become a lifelong disability,” a senior doctor from the department explained.

Doctors also stressed the importance of educating parents about the risks of screen exposure in early childhood. They fear that a whole generation could grow up with chronic neck and spinal issues if current trends continue.

The study has prompted calls for public awareness campaigns to educate families about the correct usage of mobile phones and the importance of maintaining good posture — especially in an increasingly digital world where screens are often used as pacifiers or substitutes for play and interaction.