Sedentary lifestyle leaves young people in pain

Young people are suffering from back and neck pain as a result of leading sedentary lifestyles, says research from The British Chiropractic Association (BCA).

Chiropractors have reported a rise in the number of younger people with neck and back problems and believe that a sedentary lifestyle could be playing a major role.

The survey of 16–34 year olds found that:

• 65% have experienced neck or back pain and 28% have lived with the pain for up to a month
• 40% say that the majority of their time at work is spent mainly sitting
• 32% admit that their back pain can be triggered by sitting still for long periods of time
• 68% found that their back or neck pain has prevented them from exercising and sleeping
• 22% have been unable to socialise with friends and family as a result of their pain
• 39% of 16 to 34 year olds who have suffered from neck or back pain have never had their backs checked

The BCA is encouraging people to seek clinical advice as soon as they experience any pain and warns that if conditions are left untreated they could worsen over time and lead to chronic back and neck problems in later life.

“We are seeing more and more people under the age of 35 years with back and neck pain because of the increasingly sedentary lives they lead,” says BCA chiropractor Tim Hutchful. “It’s really important that young people understand the importance of keeping active and seeking help from an expert if they are in pain.”