The Dangerous Bend: A neglected truth for children

She just wanted to dance. Now she'll never stand again.

A 5-and-a-half-year-old girl was learning how to dance. After one backbend in class, she never stood up again. A spinal cord injury. Lifelong paralysis.

This wasn't an accident. It was a man-made tragedy.

Data shows that across China, over 2,000 children have suffered the same fate. They share a name: Backbending paralysis. The youngest patient was just 4 years old.

But here's what's even more chilling: Many parents and dance teachers still don't know the danger exists.

On this topic, CGTN Health Talk spoke with orthopedic surgeons, journalists, research fellows, dance educators, training school representatives and parents. We've also listened to survivors who lived through this nightmare.

They bravely came forward - not for sympathy, but to warn others and stop more families from experiencing the same tragedy.

This is not someone else's story. It's time more people heard it.

Executive producer: Zhang Jingwen

Producer: Yang Sha

Director: Chen Chen

Videographers: Chen Yizhe, Wei Rusong, Qin Weigang, and Zhang Donghua

Cover design: Liu Shaozhen