Back Pain in Children

Backpain in the World's leading cause of human disability, it's not just an adult problem

"One in four UK kids have regular or daily back pain"

In 2015 BackCare surveyed 900 secondary school pupils (11-16 years) across the UK and discovered that two thirds of UK secondary pupils have experienced back pain. One in four suffers from back pain regularly or daily, this was higher amongst girls (27%) than boys (19%). Neck and shoulder pain were also very common, affecting a similar number.

Heavy or tiring school bags = 10 times more back pain

School bag burden was found to be common and strongly linked to back pain. Half of those surveyed said their school bag often or always felt tiring or too heavy for them. Back pain was ten times more common amonst pupils with heavy or tiring school bags.

Back pain almost double with more hours sitting

Prolonged sitting – Pupils were asked to estimate the number of hours they spend sitting per day during school, mealtimes and home time. The survery revealsed that UK secondary pupils sit for an average of 9 hours per day! Back pain was almost doubled amongst pupils with higher than average sitting times.

Studies have linked sitting for more than 4 hours per day with increased risk of diabetes, obesity, heart disease, cancer, depression and dementia.

Prevention begins at school

Our lifelong relationship with health begins in childhood. But are schools creating the next generation of back pain patients?

Thanks to Backcare for this article, more information can be found on their website, www.backcare.org.uk