Are cell phones mutating the shape of our bones?

What if cell phones had the capacity to change the shape of our bones? This shocking new topic has recently been making the rounds in the media. It is based on a scientific paper that claims that using phones and tablets might create major and long-term alterations to our health. David Shahar and Mark Sayers, biomechanics specialists from Australia's University of the Sunshine Coast, conducted a study in recent years. Biomechanics is the study of how mechanical laws apply to living beings, such as how humans run and insects beat their wings. Shahar and Sayers' research also includes osteobiography. This is utilised to deduce what someone's life was like based on their bones.

It has long been known that skeletons adapt to their surroundings. Every pair of bones has a story to tell; for example, in 1924, some abnormally huge skeletons were discovered on the Pacific island of Tinian. The significant nature of the island's bones was explained by stone buildings near the skeletons. Working with hefty stones had naturally resulted in larger arms, legs, and collarbones. In Australia, Shaw Heart and Sayers feel that modern technology is altering the skeletons of children. So, how is it accomplishing this? It all has to do with an EOP, or external occipital protuberance. Some specialists and observers have been more vivid in their descriptions, referring to it as a foam ball or a devil's horn. In reality, the EOP is a bone growth in the rear of the skull that is linked to the nuchal ligament. This is a key ligament that connects the nip muscles to the skull. The EOP has a similar effect to an anchor at the top of the nuchal ligament.

Let us now return to the original purpose of the study, which was to examine the x-rays of patients aged 18 to 86 taken by chiropractors. They wanted to acquire a current understanding of how skeletons change because many of these X-rays were looking into problems like neck pains. There's also the question of what impact these changes might have on our health. According to Shahar, EOP appears to be more prevalent in young people. They hypothesised that a major impact was young people's posture when continually checking their phones and tablets. During screen time, the neck naturally moves forward. According to the notion, craning forward creates more pressure on the area where the skull meets muscle. To compensate, the EOP steadily lengthens, eventually reaching several millilitres. "Text neck" is another term for this effect. In 2016, it was predominantly seen in men, according to the research. But what about the potential consequences for humanity?

We hear a lot about phone radiation potentially causing cancer. But, can using a mobile device cause severe health issues in the body? This new paper has sparked debate on the subject because it is the first time specialists have directly stated how technology affects our bodies. Shahar and Sayers viewed the elongated EOPs as a degenerative process, meaning that things will only become worse for young people if they continue to use their devices. There is also "text thumb" or "thumb arthritis," in which the thumb can develop major difficulties comparable to the dreaded carpal tunnel syndrome.

Others in the press, however, have criticised the research of EOPS and referred to them as horns or spikes. According to experts, the research is not conclusive and, like every scientific paper, involves assumptions. Longer skull bones are nothing new, according to archaeologists, and are more common in males. According to the study's detractors, there simply isn't enough factual data to support the idea that using your cell phone transforms you into Hellboy. So, are Shahar and the sayers on to something, or have they merely adapted proven facts to match their own explanation? In any case, there's no doubting that technology has had a profound impact on our lives. The idea that future generations are altering as a result of continual connection with their devices is a serious issue that must be addressed.