A new survey has concluded that increased instances of back and neck pain problems in youngsters are a direct result of sedentary lifestyle and increased use of gadgets such as smartphones and tablets.
According to a survey carried out by British Chiropractic Association (BCA) as many as 45 per cent of 16- to 24-year-olds surveyed are currently suffering from neck or back pain, compared with 28 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds last year.
Researchers at the associate blame it on too much gadget exposure and specifically the way in which youngsters are sitting, leaning or sleeping while using these gadgets. According to BCA, youngsters tend to forget the posture they are in while using their smartphones, tablets and other such electronic gadgets. Most youngsters hunch over the screen thereby leaving their spine unsupported, which could eventually lead to back and neck pain.
“In our research last year, we too found that people were blaming their back pain on their work. When sitting and bending forward (as you tend to do on an office seat) you can put twice as much load on your spine as standing does. Being stuck in one position for too long, even if it is in a ‘good posture’, is not advisable”, said Chiropractor, Tim Hutchful in a statement.
BCA surveyed around 2,000 people across all age groups and it found that 86 per cent of the respondents said back and neck pain was a problem, a rise of nine points from the 77 per cent last year.
Hutchful recommends that the ideal desk set-up would be a one that allows you to sit as well as stand allowing you to change position regularly thereby enabling you to fend off back and neck pain that may arise from constant sitting.
BCA chiropractor Rishi Loatey revealed in a statement to the Independent that they have witnessed an increase in the number of under-30s that are visiting them to get their pain issues resolved.
“The only sort of neck pain we used to see with that age group was people who had been in car accidents,” he said. “But now the vast majority of neck pains are people from secondary school upwards.”
According to BCA, Brits are used to sitting for over a third of their entire 24-hour day – 8.9 hours on an average to be specific. BCA, citing a series of international studies, warns that sitting for more than 4 hours each day leads to:
- Enzymes responsible for burning harmful blood fats shutting down
- Reduced calorie burning (Metabolic rate)
- Disrupted blood sugar levels
- Increased insulin and blood pressure levels
- Leg muscles switch off
These could eventually lead to a multitude of physical problems including
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Cancer
- Back ache
- Dementia
- Depression
- Muscle degeneration
