Binge-watching movies and dramas during the Chuseok holiday...How to prevent neck and back pain?

Oct 05, 2025

Binge-watching movies and dramas during the Chuseok holiday...How to prevent neck and back pain?
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Ahead of the Chuseok holiday, which is scheduled for up to 10 days, many people want to binge-watch dramas and entertainment shows that have been delayed. However, looking at the screen in the same position for a long time can put a serious burden on the health of the musculoskeletal system such as the neck, shoulders, and back, so caution is needed. In particular, if you sleep longer than usual under the excuse of 'Enough rest' during the holiday, or if you watch TV or cell phone in a lying position more frequently, it can adversely affect your back health. This is because the habit of lying down for a long time can weaken spinal muscles and reduce blood circulation, causing back pain.

◇ fascia syndrome

Muscles that make up 40% of our body are easily damaged when using imaging devices for a long time. If you focus in the wrong position for a long time when looking at a smartphone or monitor, your shoulder muscles, tendons, and ligaments are excessively tense, causing pain. A typical disease caused by this is fascia syndrome.




When fascia syndrome occurs, severe pain is felt when a specific part of the muscle (pain-inducing point) is pressed, and deep, aching, and burning discomfort occurs, making daily life difficult. Pain is also characterized by spreading from the area far away from the area.

The waist is also particularly vulnerable to wrong postures. The disc, located between the vertebrae, is surrounded by tough fibers that absorb shock, which softens the movement of the vertebrae. However, watching TV or smartphone for a long time in a bent position can put constant pressure on the disk, which can speed up damage or regression. This can lead to back pain or lumbar disc disease even in young people.

Such symptoms may improve only by resting temporarily, but when they become chronic, treatment is not easy. Early treatment and prevention are of paramount importance as they can lead to general pain and sleep disorders. In particular, fascia syndrome cannot be confirmed by imaging tests such as X-rays, MRIs, and CTs, and specialists should diagnose it by questioning and facilitating, and find and treat the area that causes pain.




◇ Turtle neck syndrome

If you use your smartphone for a long time, your head will turn downward without your knowledge. 'Turtle Neck Syndrome' refers to a state in which the C-shaped neck bone is deformed into a straight or inverted C-shaped shape due to a bent posture. When it becomes chronic, the neck tilts in front of the body, causing excessive tension in the neck and shoulder muscles, and can cause shoulder pain and headaches. In severe cases, it can proceed to the neck disc, so caution is required.

Director Lee Hak-sun (neurosurgeon), head of the spine center at Barunseang Hospital, said "When watching TV or smartphone for a long time during the holiday, the posture of lying down should be avoided because it puts unnecessary burden on the back and neck. Instead, when watching while sitting on a chair, it is important to put your hips deep in the chair and adjust the screen to your eye level with your waist straight. If possible, it is helpful to get up for 5 to 10 minutes after watching for an hour and move your body, stretch your neck and shoulders, or walk lightly.'






Binge-watching movies and dramas during the Chuseok holiday...How to prevent neck and back pain?


This article was translated by Naver AI translator.