Q Can the habit of looking at a smartphone for a long time worsen shoulder impingement syndrome?
A Looking at a smartphone with your head bowed for extended periods can exacerbate imbalances in the neck and shoulder muscles, narrowing the subacromial space and potentially worsening impingement symptoms. It is important to adjust the screen to eye level and perform shoulder stretches every 30 minutes.
Detailed Answer
If a forward head posture persists, the thoracic spine flexes and the scapula tilts forward, structurally narrowing the subacromial space. When the pectoralis minor and upper trapezius muscles become over-tightened or shortened, the humeral head is pushed upward and forward, causing repeated impingement. If you use a smartphone for more than 4 hours a day, shoulder muscle imbalances progress rapidly; therefore, strengthening exercises for the lower and middle trapezius muscles are essential along with posture correction. Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective In Korean medicine, prolonged sitting and slouching are viewed as disrupting the function of regulating muscles and tendons, and blocking the flow of Qi and blood to the shoulders. When stagnation of Qi and blood accumulates around the shoulders and neck, pain easily recurs even with cold or damp stimuli. At Dongjedang, we relax tense muscles and tendons using acupuncture and moxibustion, and guide patients through stretching exercises tailored to Qi and blood flow by identifying their individual postural habits.
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