24/06/2025

TUESDAY | JUNE 24, 2025

5

Posture-related health issues rising: Trainer

Airport runway temporarily closed KUALA LUMPUR: The runway at the Kuching International Airport (KIA) was temporarily closed yesterday to facilitate the removal of an Air Force aircraft and subsequent runway clearing works, following an incident that occurred at 11.30am. Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd said yesterday a Notice to Airmen was issued and the closure was expected to continue until 3pm. During this closure, all flight operations at KIA were impacted and passengers were advised to check with their respective airlines. The airport operator said it would provide updates on the status of the runway based on the Civil Aviation Authority declaring it safe and open for flight operations. According to social media posts, the aircraft is believed to be an Air Force CN235 that experienced landing gear malfunction, causing one of its wheels to reportedly detach during landing, Bernama reported. All crew members on board were reported to be safe. Security guard injured in parang attack SEREMBAN: A security guard was seriously injured after being slashed by a group of unidentified individuals during a fight in front of a fast-food outlet in Bandar Baru Nilai on Sunday. Nilai district police chief Supt Abdul Malik Hasim said police received a report at 6.08am from a medical officer at the Sultan Idris Shah Hospital in Serdang, informing that the local man in his 30s had been admitted to the Red Zone with blood covering his face and body. He said preliminary investigations found that the victim was attacked with a parang and beaten with wooden sticks by several unknown individuals in the 2.30am incident. “The victim is in stable condition, having sustained injuries to his head and legs,” he said in a statement. He added that initial investigations indicated that the incident is not linked to gangsterism, revenge or past conflicts. “The incident is believed to have occurred spontaneously during an altercation as all parties involved were intoxicated due to alcohol consumption, which led to misunderstanding, provocation and physical assault. “Police are working to identify the individuals,” he said. – Bernama Man held over wildlife smuggling bid PUTRAJAYA: A local man was detained at KL International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 for attempting to smuggle four exotic animals, believed to be black-handed gibbons worth around RM30,000. The Border Control and Protection Agency said in a statement on Sunday the animals were found inside the 34-year-old suspect’s luggage. He was a passenger on a Batik Air flight bound for Mumbai in India and scheduled to depart on Friday. “The suspect was detained on the spot and taken to the Aeropolis police headquarters for further action,” the statement said. The agency said the gibbons have been handed over to the Wildlife and National Parks Department for investigation and further action. The case is being probed under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 and the International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008. The arrest was part of enhanced integrated checks launched this month in collaboration with Aviation Security (Avsec) and the department, targeting wildlife smuggling through high-risk aviation entry points. “The agency, Avsec and the department will continue to tighten security controls at KLIA,” the statement added. – Bernama

o ‘Prevalent conditions include lower back pain, forward neck flexion and shoulder strain’

Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Malaysians, particularly youth and office workers, are increasingly grappling with posture-related health issues due to excessive phone and digital device use, said Physiogo trainer and physiotherapist Nor Izzah Lukman. “At Physiogo, over 50% of our clients report neck pain. One of the main contributing factors is poor posture, especially when the head is tilted forward for prolonged periods while using phones.” She said common complaints include “text neck”, shoulder tension and lower back pain. She also said the problem worsened during the Covid-19 pandemic as remote work and online learning drastically increased daily screen time. The most prevalent posture-related conditions include lower back pain, forward neck flexion and shoulder strain, all linked to prolonged sitting and poor spinal alignment. “When the lumbar sitting angle drops below 90°, it could compress the lumbar nerve roots, leading to pain and nerve irritation,” she explained. Citing research from the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, she noted that 60% of office workers aged between 30 and 50 experience musculoskeletal pain. “Among younger adults aged between 18 and 30, technology use is the main culprit, while older adults tend to suffer due to years of poor posture and age-related degeneration. “Women may develop posture issues from pregnancy or osteoporosis while men are more prone to injuries from physical labour or extended sitting,” she added. Nor Izzah highlighted a rise in cases of dropped head syndrome (DHS) in which severe weakness in the neck extensor muscles causes the head to droop forward. “DHS is typically linked to neuromuscular disorders, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Another variant, isolated neck extensor myopathy, is sometimes seen in elderly patients with spinal deformities such as kyphosis.” She warned that poor ergonomics, such as

Nor Izzah recommended keeping screens at eye level, maintaining proper back support and sitting with elbows at a 90° angle. – ADIB RAWI YAHYA/ THESUN

neck cancers may develop DHS due to muscle and nerve damage. “Scoliosis and kyphosis, often diagnosed during adolescence, can worsen over time if not treated,” he said. He said while physiotherapy may help in mild cases, severe spinal deformities may require surgical correction to restore alignment. He explained that cervical spondylosis, caused by disc wear and tear, could compress nerves and trigger pain in the neck and arms, although it typically does not lead to full head drooping as seen in DHS. Early signs of DHS include numbness or tingling in the hands, neck stiffness and muscle weakness during simple tasks, such as brushing teeth. “These red flags are often ignored until more serious complications occur, such as mobility loss or bladder dysfunction,” he cautioned. Rabeenash advised maintaining a healthy weight, eating well and staying physically active. “Strengthening core muscles with exercises such as Pilates is especially beneficial.” He warned against long hours of sitting with poor posture. “Sit upright, do not slouch and avoid hunching over devices. These small changes could make a big difference in long-term spinal health.”

constantly looking down at phones or using laptops without proper alignment, could result in tension headaches, shoulder tightness and even nerve compression, leading to tingling sensations in the arms. She recommended keeping screens at eye level, maintaining proper back support and sitting with elbows at a 90° angle. “Follow the 20-20-20 rule, every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Also, take a break every 30 to 60 minutes to stretch.” Simple exercises, such as chin tucks, neck stretches and shoulder rolls, could relieve tension and improve posture. “Neglecting these habits may lead to chronic conditions, such as disc degeneration or myofascial pain,” she warned. She called for greater public awareness through social media campaigns, infographics and stretching tutorials. “Education should start early, with school talks that promote healthy posture habits from a young age.” Orthopaedic specialist Dr Rabeenash Singh Rajpal Singh, part of the spine team at Hospital Putrajaya, outlined the key causes of DHS, namely neuromuscular disorders such as myasthenia gravis, structural deformities such as scoliosis and kyphosis, and degenerative or postural issues such as cervical spondylosis. He added that patients who have undergone radiation therapy for thyroid or

Trial of Vivy Yusof and husband set in April 2026 KUALA LUMPUR: The Sessions Court yesterday set 15 days of trial next year beginning April 13 for a case involving FashionValet Sdn Bhd founders Datin Vivy Sofinas and her husband Datuk Fadzarudin Shah Anuar. dates agreed upon by the prosecution and defence. Lawyer M. Athimulan is representing the couple. The offence was allegedly committed at Public Bank Berhad, Bukit Damansara Branch, 36-40 Medan Setia 2, Plaza Damansara in Bukit Damansara here on Aug 21, 2018.

The charge, framed under Section 409 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same Code, provides between two and 20 years’ jail, whipping and a fine upon conviction. The couple also pleaded not guilty to an alternative charge of jointly and dishonestly misusing company property, namely RM8 million in investment funds from Khazanah and PNB. The charge is framed under Section 403 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same Code, which provides between six months and five years’ jail, caning and a fine upon conviction. – Bernama

Wan Shaharuddin told the court that the prosecution would call 26 witnesses to testify. The accused, both aged 37, were not present in court yesterday as their attendance had been exempted. On Dec 5 last year, Vivy and Fadzarudin pleaded not guilty to a charge of committing CBT in their capacity as directors of FashionValet Sdn Bhd. They are accused of misappropriating investment funds entrusted to them by Khazanah and PNB by transferring RM8 million from FashionValet Sdn Bhd’s company account to 30 Maple Sdn Bhd without the approval of FashionValet’s board of directors.

They are facing charges of criminal breach of trust (CBT), involving RM8 million in investment funds from Khazanah Nasional Berhad and Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB). Judge Rosli Ahmad set the trial dates for April 13 to 17, May 18 to 22 and June 8 to 12, 2026. “The trial will run for 15 days and the court has set the next case mention for Oct 27,” said Rosli. Earlier, DPP Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin requested that the court fix the trial