The University of the Sunshine Coast, located in Queensland, Australia, determined through a recent scientific study published in the journal Nature , that mobile phones could be changing the structure of the human skeleton due to the way we hunch over for so many hours a day.
The "bony peak" located at the back of the skull would suffer a malformation due to this habit that has made us so dependent on smartphones and that keeps us looking at their screens for long periods of time , and most of the time, without being aware that we are in positions not recommended by ergonomics.
Given these bone changes (which they've dubbed the external occipital protuberance or external occipital crest), the authors of the research have theorized that we could begin to develop a kind of occipital horn at the base of the skull . But how long will it take for these changes to become noticeable? Will humans start being born with this kind of hump? Below, we'll explain in detail what the human implications will be, according to the Australian university.
Could spending so many hours hunched over a cell phone create humans with horns and humps?
In recent days, the most outrageous claim this study has generated is that due to the poor posture we adopt due to spending so much time on our cell phones, humans develop a kind of horn or extra bone on the back of the skull.
The end of the spine and the underlying musculature, as well as the tendons and fibers, would suffer a deformation, protruding noticeably from our neck, as seen below in an MRI of a 28-year-old Australian research volunteer.
In the image used as an example in the publication, a growth of 27.8 mm can be observed. To understand what this means, it's important to keep in mind that in medical terms, 3 or 5 mm can be considered a significant growth on the head.
It's important to note that these changes weren't just evident in a few volunteers; researchers examined more than 1,000 people between the ages of 18 and 86 to find this surprising pattern in this unusual bone in the back of the neck.
David Shahar, leader of the team of scientists, indicated that this modification may be due to repetitive and sustained mechanical stress due to poor posture on parts of the body we don't use frequently. This would lead to the adaptation of the tendons and connective tissues in the inion area.
According to some research findings, an increasing number of people, especially those between the ages of 18 and 30, have experienced abnormal bone growths like occipital horns on the underside of the skull, called enlarged external occipital protuberances. The study indicated:
"Musculoskeletal disorders related to poor posture while using computers and tablets have been extensively investigated and identified as a risk factor for the development of related symptoms in the neck, shoulders, and forearms."
But will we get a horn from looking at our phones so much OR NOT?
It is important to note that these changes are not evolutionary, but rather caused by persistent poor posture, which could ultimately lead to musculoskeletal disorders, generating neck and shoulder problems, and irreversible cervical damage.
In an interview with National Geographic , Mark Sayers , co-author of the study and expert in Biomechanics and Sport at the University of the Costa del Sol, expressed that there is not enough data to explain that there is a direct cause-effect relationship between the use of mobile phones and the growth of bumps in the neck, that the study has been misinterpreted in the media and that a correction is already being made in this regard.
It is an adaptive issue, not an evolutionary one.
David Shahar, the study's lead author, says the results are compelling, but clarifies: "We didn't study cell phone use at any point. We simply highlighted the surprising prevalence and magnitude of these increases among young people . Everything else is speculation."
Shahar added that, with his 20 years of experience in medicine, it's only in the last decade that he's observed these types of bone changes in the skulls of young people. Coincidence?
Paraphrasing the researchers , our body continually adapts to physical changes , and in this particular case, it does so as a consequence of poor posture, but it does not necessarily mean an evolution, but rather a more than sufficient reason to become aware of our posture and do something about it.
Studies confirm that we spend a lot of time in front of our cell phones.
A 2017 study conducted in the United Kingdom by the Office of Communications (OFCOM) revealed that the average person spends about 24 hours a week on their mobile phone. Not only that, but they also check their phone every 12 minutes.
In the UK alone, 78 percent of Britons own at least one smartphone , and one in five adults spends around 40 hours online each week in addition to their phone time.
According to the survey, two in five adults (40%) check their phone for the first time within five minutes of waking up, and 65% of those under 35 are younger than 35. Similarly, 37% of adults would check their phone five minutes before lights out, and this figure again rises to 60% for those under 35.
These statistics clearly demonstrate that we spend too much time hunched over our phones and are living with a high dependence on being hyperconnected. In this sense, a bump on the head is imminent if we don't improve our habits and posture.
6 Tips to Improve Your Posture When Using Your Phone
Try to maintain good posture when sitting on your phone . The chair in which you're working on your phone should provide good lumbar support so your back rests and doesn't curve as much as possible. Both feet should remain flat on the floor, and it's recommended to keep your knees level with or above your hips.
- It's very important to hold your phone firmly, even holding it with both hands . It's recommended to maintain a natural head position, ensuring it doesn't require forced movements.
- Use multiple fingers to type. Alternating between your thumbs and fingers while typing will relieve muscle tension.
- Avoid bending your neck and back forward . The correct position for the phone is at chest level.
- Take short breaks. It's more effective to take short, frequent breaks than very long ones. Listen to your body, because it will ask for a break due to physical, visual, and mental fatigue.
- Equip yourself with therapeutic products that relieve postural pain and help you maintain a good posture throughout your workday, such as our excellent cushions . At Theramart , you'll find a wide collection of postural cushions ideal for any need of your back, neck, and pelvis. And after reading this article, you may also want to avoid skeletal malformations and long-term injuries.
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