One-third of youngsters suffer back pain due to lazier lifestyles
Sunday, 18 April 2010
Almost one-third of youngsters suffer from back problems before the age of 18 because of their lazier lifestyles or for carrying school bags that are too heavy, doctors warned, reports BSS.
They blamed too many hours slumped in front of TV or playing computer games, carrying heavy bags to school and playing little sport for the rise in cases of back pain among youngsters.
Couch-potato lifestyle and heavy school bags cause back pain among almost half of school children by the age of 18. Almost half of them admit of spending the majority of their half terms playing computer games or watching TV instead of being active, they said.
They found the school children carrying around heavy books and sports equipment all day on their backs.
Smokers, especially younger smokers, are more likely to report low back pain than people who have never smoked, according to the doctors.
Prof Dr Amin Uddin Khan of Chittagong Medical College said that youngsters now complaining of back pain was now growing at an alarming rate within the country.
He also said that parents should take responsibility for their child's development by encouraging them to go outside and exercise. "We are in no doubt that lack of exercise is youngsters' number one enemy," he said.
Dr Hasmat Ali of Bangladesh Medical College Hospital said, "There are simple steps parents can take such as checking that children aren't carrying around unnecessary items in their bags and encouraging them to use a rucksack worn correctly on both shoulders."
Pre-teens and teens have experienced back pains due to backpack overload, which can cause muscle fatigue and strain. It was estimated that more than 5,000 injuries related to backpacks were treated at doctors' offices, clinics, and emergency rooms in the year 2009, sources said.
Preventive measures include using proper techniques when lifting heavy backpacks (bending knees not the back), going to lockers between classes or using roller type backpacks.
Remember back injuries are the second leading cause of job- related disability and a leading contributor to missed work. Even if your back feels fine, if you are not mindful of good posture, proper movement and being in shape, back injuries are probable, said Dr Jahangir Alam of CMC.
Fifty per cent of country's people suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. The reasons for this vary. Age contributes as bone strength and muscle elasticity and tone tend to decrease.
Moving heavy objects the wrong way, sudden movements, weak core musculature, particularly the abdominal and lower back can also contribute to back problems.
The pain can be the result of strain or compression of a disk, which can exert pressure on any of the more than 50 nerve roots running through the spine, doctors said.
Pain may also originate from degenerative conditions such as arthritis or disc disease, osteoporosis or other bone diseases, viral infections, irritation to joints and discs, or congenital abnormalities in the spine.
Obesity, smoking, weight gain during pregnancy, stress and poor sleeping position also may contribute to low back pain. Scar tissue from previous back injuries, which is not as strong or flexible, can be a catalyst to back injuries also, they said.
They blamed too many hours slumped in front of TV or playing computer games, carrying heavy bags to school and playing little sport for the rise in cases of back pain among youngsters.
Couch-potato lifestyle and heavy school bags cause back pain among almost half of school children by the age of 18. Almost half of them admit of spending the majority of their half terms playing computer games or watching TV instead of being active, they said.
They found the school children carrying around heavy books and sports equipment all day on their backs.
Smokers, especially younger smokers, are more likely to report low back pain than people who have never smoked, according to the doctors.
Prof Dr Amin Uddin Khan of Chittagong Medical College said that youngsters now complaining of back pain was now growing at an alarming rate within the country.
He also said that parents should take responsibility for their child's development by encouraging them to go outside and exercise. "We are in no doubt that lack of exercise is youngsters' number one enemy," he said.
Dr Hasmat Ali of Bangladesh Medical College Hospital said, "There are simple steps parents can take such as checking that children aren't carrying around unnecessary items in their bags and encouraging them to use a rucksack worn correctly on both shoulders."
Pre-teens and teens have experienced back pains due to backpack overload, which can cause muscle fatigue and strain. It was estimated that more than 5,000 injuries related to backpacks were treated at doctors' offices, clinics, and emergency rooms in the year 2009, sources said.
Preventive measures include using proper techniques when lifting heavy backpacks (bending knees not the back), going to lockers between classes or using roller type backpacks.
Remember back injuries are the second leading cause of job- related disability and a leading contributor to missed work. Even if your back feels fine, if you are not mindful of good posture, proper movement and being in shape, back injuries are probable, said Dr Jahangir Alam of CMC.
Fifty per cent of country's people suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. The reasons for this vary. Age contributes as bone strength and muscle elasticity and tone tend to decrease.
Moving heavy objects the wrong way, sudden movements, weak core musculature, particularly the abdominal and lower back can also contribute to back problems.
The pain can be the result of strain or compression of a disk, which can exert pressure on any of the more than 50 nerve roots running through the spine, doctors said.
Pain may also originate from degenerative conditions such as arthritis or disc disease, osteoporosis or other bone diseases, viral infections, irritation to joints and discs, or congenital abnormalities in the spine.
Obesity, smoking, weight gain during pregnancy, stress and poor sleeping position also may contribute to low back pain. Scar tissue from previous back injuries, which is not as strong or flexible, can be a catalyst to back injuries also, they said.