Office workers have severe shoulder dislocation and curved spine before the age of 30.

(Dan Tri) - Despite exercising regularly, Manh still has an "unstable" spine because of some habits that many people often have. These habits seem very small but can have long-term consequences.

Spine curved 40 degrees because of seemingly small habits

The clock struck 6:30 p.m. Do Manh (29 years old, programmer in Ho Chi Minh City) had just typed the last lines of code, preparing to leave the office to go to the gym across the street. Four years ago, Manh discovered that he had severe scoliosis, which could not be cured, and could only be improved by exercising. This habit was also built from then on.

Although 1m85 tall, before 2019, Manh used to have a rather chubby body, weighing more than 90kg. At that time, people often teased him because of his slightly hunched gait and crooked shoulders. Manh did not pay much attention because he had never had any unusual pain, only feeling sore after long working hours.

That same year, Manh broke up with his girlfriend. Determined to change himself after the emotional shock, he embarked on a strict diet and exercised at home. In just a few months, his weight dropped to over 70kg.

Only then did he begin to realize the real problem. Manh’s body was not only thinner, but also clearly crooked, his left shoulder was clearly out of alignment with his right, making him look as if he was leaning to one side. However, since there was no unusual pain, Manh remained complacent.

Manh's left shoulder is completely crooked after losing weight (Photo: NV).

During a routine check-up in 2021, he began to worry when the doctor looked at the X-ray and advised him to have a more in-depth examination at the Orthopedic Trauma Department. Holding the results, Manh was shocked when he read the diagnosis of "severe scoliosis with cervical spondylosis".

"The spine is curved 40 degrees, forming a clear S-shape. Why are you only going to see a doctor now? If the bone curves any further, there is a high risk of fracture," Manh was shocked to hear the doctor say, because he had never thought the posture problem would be so serious.

According to doctors, there is no way to magically "straighten" the spine. Surgery is reserved for more severe cases. The only advice is to maintain a healthy lifestyle, especially exercise to strengthen the muscles that support the spine.

Two severe scoliosis points were marked by the doctor on Manh's X-ray film (Photo: NV).

"My illness may have originated from small daily habits such as sitting at the computer in the wrong position for many years, sleeping with one arm over my head, and especially often carrying a heavy backpack or handbag on the left side, leading to a more severe left shoulder deviation. In addition, exercising in the wrong position at home can also be a factor that makes the illness worse," Manh shared.

Now, he not only works out at the gym but also learns to swim, takes yoga to improve his posture, switches to an ergonomic chair at home, and regularly reminds himself to balance the load when carrying things.

Why does exercise still affect the spine?

Talking to Dan Tri , Dr. Le Huu Phuc, Head of the Pain Treatment Unit, Ho Chi Minh City Hospital of Traditional Medicine, said that every day, the hospital receives hundreds of patients for examination, many of whom have problems related to the spine.

According to Dr. Phuc's observation, young people (age group from 20 to 60, often in the stage of studying, working and actively participating in physical activities) are susceptible to diseases related to the axial spine such as the cervical and lumbar spine.

"Some common conditions include functional spinal pain, spinal trauma, spinal degeneration, and spinal disc herniation.

The main causes of these diseases often come from a sedentary lifestyle, incorrect posture, trauma, obesity and unscientific diet, leading to damage to the spinal structure in this age group. In addition, incorrect exercise is also a significant cause," said the Head of the Pain Treatment Unit.

Among the hundreds of cases he has received, Dr. Phuc always remembers a 22-year-old patient who had a habit of high-intensity gym workouts and was hospitalized with acute lower back pain radiating to the buttocks and right leg while lifting weights.

Through clinical examination and MRI, the young man was diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation compressing the nerve roots. This is a common acute case in the musculoskeletal clinic, not too serious if treated promptly.

"Patients need to be treated with painkillers, physical therapy and rest in the early stages. In the long term, patients need to change their lifestyle, exercise according to the level of injury and monitor for complications," the doctor shared.

Many patients coming for spinal treatment are office workers and very young (Photo: Doctor)

Further analysis, the doctor said, when working out at the gym, lifting weights or playing badminton, mistakes such as incorrect posture, lifting heavy objects suddenly or not warming up can lead to spinal injuries.

According to Dr. Phuc, to protect the spine, young people need to maintain correct posture, exercise regularly but moderately, have a reasonable diet, control weight and lifestyle, pay attention to safety when working and living, and have regular health check-ups.

A common mistake when dealing with back pain

In addition, Dr. Phuc also warned of a very common mistake among many back pain patients today.

"When experiencing musculoskeletal pain, many people seek out massage or chiropractic facilities. Currently, massage and chiropractic facilities are opening everywhere due to high demand but lack of strict control. This poses a potential health risk if the facility is not specialized," the doctor shared.

According to doctors, well-qualified and licensed facilities can effectively treat a number of musculoskeletal disorders.

However, if unfortunately encountering unqualified or unlicensed facilities, or improper treatment, patients may experience serious complications such as paralysis, movement disorders, loss of sensation, autonomic nervous system disorders, leading to a decline in quality of life. Improper treatment can even cause spinal cord injury, leading to partial or complete paralysis of the body.

"Many times, we have received cases of complications after treatment at non-specialized facilities. There were cases of spinal degeneration, but after treatment at an unlicensed facility, the disease progressed to disc herniation, nerve compression, causing pain, numbness and weakness in the limbs," the doctor shared.

Faced with this situation, patients need to pay attention to finding out detailed information, checking licenses, verifying treatment methods, evaluating facilities, as well as clearly discussing costs before choosing treatment to avoid losing money and getting sick.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/dan-van-phong-vai-lech-nang-cot-song-cong-veo-truoc-tuoi-30-20250930115651627.htm