Would you hang by your neck for better sleep? That’s not just a morbidly worded question but a trend that social media is confronting users with.

A recent viral video from Shenyang, China, featuring people gently swaying from belts around their necks to relieve insomnia and neck pain, has accumulated over 6 million views in just a few weeks.

Despite its popularity, medical experts strongly caution that this practice may pose significant health risks far outweighing any alleged benefits.

What Is Going Viral?

In late April 2025, a shaky video from Shenyang, China, exploded across social media including TikTok, Weibo, and X. The footage shows park-goers looping padded belts around their necks, tipping forward, and gently swaying for several minutes.

Inventor Sun Rongchun claims this “neck-swinging” method “decompressed” his spine and “knocked him out like a baby.” The hashtag #NeckSwing quickly amassed over 6 million views.

But medical experts are sounding alarms about this practice. Hanging any weight from your neck puts dangerous pressure on delicate structures in your throat and spine. The neck contains vital blood vessels that carry oxygen to your brain, and compressing them can cause dizziness, fainting, or worse. Even with padding, the risk of cutting off blood flow remains high.

Your cervical spine – the top part of your backbone – wasn’t designed to support your full body weight in this way. Doctors warn that neck swinging could cause serious injuries including nerve damage, vertebrae fractures, or damage to the spinal cord itself. These injuries can lead to permanent disability or paralysis.

The appeal is understandable. Many people suffer from neck pain and back problems from sitting at computers all day. They’re looking for quick fixes and are drawn to unusual methods that promise relief. Social media makes these trends spread faster than ever, often without proper safety warnings.

What About Hanging Upside Down?

Some people wonder if hanging upside down on an

inversion table



might help them sleep better. They might think that the upside-down position could help them relax or reduce back pain that keeps them awake at night. Others believe it might improve blood flow or help their spine decompress after a long day.

The idea seems to make sense on its face. If hanging upside down for a few minutes can help with back pain, maybe doing it longer could provide even more benefits for sleep. Some people report feeling relaxed after short sessions on inversion tables, which might lead them to think sleeping upside down could work too.

However, sleeping upside down is extremely dangerous and should never be attempted.

When you hang upside down for long periods, several serious problems can happen to your body:

• Blood pressure rises dangerously high, which can cause strokes or heart attacks
• Pressure builds up in your skull and behind your eyes, leading to severe headaches or vision problems
• Your heart has to work much harder to pump blood throughout your body
• Breathing can become difficult in the upside-down position

These risks become much worse the longer you stay inverted. What might be manageable for a minute or two becomes life-threatening over hours.

The muscles in your ankles that keep you secured to the inversion table also get tired after just one minute. This means you could fall and seriously injure your head or spine while sleeping.

Safe alternatives for better sleep and back pain relief include:

• Using a supportive mattress and pillows
• Gentle stretching before bed
• Taking a warm bath
• Practicing relaxation techniques
• Talking to a doctor about safe pain management options

If back pain is keeping you awake, it’s much safer to work with a healthcare provider to find proper treatment rather than risking the serious dangers of sleeping upside down.

Sleeping in a Hammock

If you’re looking for the soothing effects of gentle motion to help with sleep, a hammock is a much safer choice. The practice of sleeping in a hammock offers a safer way to experience gentle swaying motion without putting your neck in danger.

Many people are drawn to the idea of sleeping in a hammock because of the gentle rocking motion. The side-to-side swaying can feel soothing and relaxing, similar to being rocked as a child. Some hammock sleepers believe this natural motion helps them fall asleep faster and sleep more deeply.

The gentle motion may trigger relaxation responses in the brain, and rhythmic movement can be naturally calming. It might help quiet racing thoughts at bedtime, and the novelty factor could make some people feel more relaxed.

While some people swear by hammock sleeping, it’s important to stay realistic about what it can and cannot do. Sleep problems have many different causes, and a hammock won’t fix underlying issues like:

• Stress and anxiety
• Medical conditions that disrupt sleep
• Poor sleep habits
• Environmental factors like noise or light

There is some limited research that supports the idea, though. A small
study



found that men who napped in a gently swinging bed fell asleep quicker than those in a regular bed. The rocking motion seemed to help their brains transition from being awake to sleeping. However, this study only looked at 12 people taking short afternoon naps. Obviously, that is not the same as a full night’s sleep.

Hammock sleeping can cause back and neck pain from sleeping in an unusual position. You might have difficulty getting comfortable if you’re used to a mattress, and there’s always a risk of falling out during the night. The limited space makes it hard to stretch or change positions, and it’s definitely not suitable for couples who share a bed.

If you want to try hammock sleeping, start with short naps to see how your body responds. Use a pillow to support your neck and lie diagonally across the hammock for more space. Most importantly, consider it as one tool among many for better sleep, not a cure-all.

What Doctors Recommend Instead

Medical professionals strongly advise against neck swinging and recommend much safer alternatives for neck pain and sleep problems. For neck issues, proven treatments include gentle stretching, proper posture, physical therapy, and working with qualified healthcare providers.

For sleep problems, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (
CBT-I



) has decades of research showing it works. This involves working with trained professionals to identify and change thoughts and behaviors that interfere with good sleep.

Other safe options include regular exercise, stress management, creating good sleep habits, and addressing underlying health conditions that might cause pain or sleep problems.

Expert Opinions

• Dr. Jordan Burns:
  “Suspending your entire bodyweight from the neck is biomechanically unsound—far more likely to irritate nerves than cure insomnia.”
• Dr. Jennifer Miller:
  “Medical traction uses precise grams of force; park-belt swinging is essentially an uncontrolled physics experiment on your spinal cord.”
• Dr. Stuart Peirson:
  “Extreme hacks go viral because they’re dramatic, not because they’re effective. Orthosomnia fuels this unhealthy cycle.”
  

Why We Fall for Extreme Hacks

Dr. Peirson points to the rise of orthosomnia, the obsessive pursuit of perfect sleep-tracker scores. But it’s not just an unhealthy drive for perfect sleep that can sway you to try the off-kilter and even dangerous “hacks” that promise to improve your sleep.

When conventional methods like blue-light blockers or relaxation techniques don’t instantly improve sleep metrics, internet algorithms reward more extreme, visually compelling methods—mouth-taping, ice baths, thick coats of face products for a morning shed, and now neck-hanging.

It’s the spectacle, rather than the science, that earns viral attention. That’s why it’s important to be wary of anything that promises swift improvement of your sleep, especially if you need to be a product of some kind or another. Marketers push items like grounding sheets with grandiose claims they can’t live up to.

Some are all right to try for most such as viral beverages like lettuce water, celery juice, and sleepy girl drinks. The science is limited to non-existent for how effective they are, but your mind can still associate the drink with bedtime.

Restructuring a nighttime or morning routine can also be worth a try, which is why we’ve given stamps of approval to closing shift and opening shift trends. If your current routine isn’t satisfying you, it’s all right to switch it up!

For more on orthosomnia and sleep-tracker culture, see our detailed guide on “Sleepmaxxing.”

FAQs

Is neck-swinging safe?

No, neck-swinging is not safe at all. Medical experts strongly warn that hanging from your neck can cause serious damage to important parts of your neck like ligaments, muscles, and nerves.

This practice can also squeeze blood vessels in your neck (arterial compression), which can cause dangerous spikes in your blood pressure that could lead to strokes or other life-threatening problems.

Does neck-swinging cure insomnia?

No, there is no scientific proof that neck-swinging helps with sleep problems. Real medical studies have never tested this method, so we don’t know if it works or how dangerous it might be.

Instead, doctors recommend proven treatments like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), which has been studied for many years and shown to be both safe and effective for helping people sleep better.

Are inversion tables safer?

Inversion tables are somewhat safer than neck-swinging because they hang you upside down by your ankles instead of your neck. However, many doctors still have concerns about inversion tables and don’t recommend them for treating sleep problems.

While they might be less dangerous than hanging by your neck, they can still cause problems for some people and are not proven to help with insomnia.

Who should avoid inversion?

Many people should never try inversion therapy of any kind. If you have high blood pressure, heart disease, eye problems like glaucoma, weak bones (osteoporosis), or back problems, inversion can be very dangerous for you.

These conditions make inversion risky because hanging upside down increases pressure in your blood vessels and can make existing health problems much worse.

What are other dangerous ways to try and improve sleep?

Taking over-the-counter sleep medications regularly without medical supervision can lead to dependency and may mask underlying sleep disorders that require proper treatment.

Using unregulated herbal supplements in high doses can be risky, as these substances can interact with other medications or cause unexpected side effects without proper medical oversight.

Other dangerous approaches include drastically restricting sleep hours in an attempt to “sleep better,” using potentially harmful devices or techniques promoted online without scientific validation, or ignoring underlying medical conditions like sleep apnea that require professional treatment.

Is sleeping flat the best way to sleep?

Sleeping completely flat isn’t necessarily the best position for everyone, as the optimal sleep position depends on individual factors like existing health conditions, body type, and personal comfort.

Many sleep experts actually recommend sleeping with a slight elevation of the head and upper body, which can help reduce acid reflux, improve breathing, and potentially reduce snoring.

Side sleeping with proper pillow support is often considered ideal for spinal alignment, while back sleeping with a pillow under the knees can also be beneficial, though sleeping on your stomach is generally discouraged as it can strain the neck and spine.

How can I be more cautious with social media advice about sleep?

Before implementing any sleep advice from social media, try talking to your doctor. Especially if you have existing sleep issues! And be particularly skeptical of advice that promises dramatic overnight improvements or involves purchasing specific products.

Social media sleep advice often lacks scientific backing and may be promoted by influencers without medical expertise, so it’s crucial to verify any claims through reputable medical sources or sleep specialists.

Many viral sleep “hacks” are based on anecdotal evidence rather than peer-reviewed research, and what works for one person may not work for others due to individual differences in sleep disorders, health conditions, or lifestyle factors.

The Bottom Line Is Safety First

The neck-swinging trend from China shows how quickly dangerous practices can spread when people are desperate for solutions to common problems like neck pain and poor sleep. While the testimonials might sound convincing, the medical risks are simply too serious to ignore.

Your neck contains some of the most important and delicate structures in your body. No amount of potential relief is worth risking permanent injury, paralysis, or death. The same drive that makes people try extreme methods can be redirected toward proven, safe treatments that actually work.

Real solutions for neck pain and sleep problems do exist. They might not be as dramatic or quick as viral trends promise, but they’re backed by solid research and won’t put your life in danger. Physical therapy, proper sleep habits, stress management, and working with healthcare providers may take more time and effort, but they offer genuine, lasting relief without the risks.

Before trying any new treatment you see online, especially one that seems too good to be true, talk to a doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. They can help you find safe, effective options that are right for your specific situation.

Join the Conversation

Have you seen other dangerous health trends spreading on social media? Are you struggling with neck pain or sleep problems and looking for safe solutions? Leave a comment below – our expert panel of healthcare professionals regularly reviews reader questions and can provide guidance on proven alternatives to risky viral trends.

Share this article on your social media platforms to help warn friends and family about the serious dangers of neck-swinging and other extreme health “hacks.” The more people who know the risks, the fewer will be tempted to try these dangerous practices. Your share could literally save someone’s life or prevent a serious injury.

Together, we can help people make informed, safe choices about their health instead of falling for the latest viral trend.