Computer games responsible for increased back pain

Media release – August 14, 2007

Computer games responsible for increased back pain among NZ teenagers – says physiotherapist Duncan Reid

Computer games responsible for increased back pain cases among the nation’s teenagers will be a key issue to be discussed at the national physiotherapists conference in Rotorua next week.

Conference organiser Duncan Reid said low back pain is a major contributor to loss of work productivity both in New Zealand and across the world. But it is also becoming a growing concern among teenagers.

The problem of low back and neck pain in teenagers is likely to increase significantly in years to come, he said.

``This seems on the cards considering the associated health problems of obesity, reduced levels of activity, and the popularity of passive entertainment systems such as play stations that encourage further inactivity and prolonged sitting posture in the adolescent age group.

``While 80 percent of the population are likely to experience low back pain at some stage in their life, there is a worrying trend in the amount of back pain experienced by teenagers.

``Physiotherapists at the conference will hear Dr Peter O’Sullivan, a NZ trained Physiotherapist now working in Perth, discuss this trend.’’

O’Sullivan says back pain commonly develops in early teenage years and reaches up towards adult rates in late teens (70 percent).

``Having another family member with a history of back pain means you are more likely to develop back pain as an adolescent. So does poor family functioning and increased life stress. Higher levels of stress, anxiety and depression are also associated with adolescent back pain.

``Back pain is commonly provoked by sporting activity and static postures such as sitting. It is also known that specific sporting groups such as rowers are at higher risk of back pain.’’

Reid said children seem to fall into two broad groups, those doing very little activity and those doing too much. Both groups are prone to back pain.

The conference would also address back problems among young sports people such as rowers. Back injury is the most common injury for rowers in all age groups.

Physiotherapists attending the conference will hear of ways to assess the movement and muscle activity patterns of teenagers and instigate appropriate exercise strategies.

Back pain is a major contributor to loss of work productivity, with ACC spending more than $130 million a year treating back-pain-related injuries.

It is the centre topic at the New Zealand Manipulative Physiotherapists' Association conference in Rotorua on August 24 -26.

Studies have found that if a person with a back injury was not back at work within 25 weeks of the injury they had just a 50 percent chance of getting back to work, he said. The figure reduces to 25 percent if someone has been off work for 52 weeks.

The conference will bring together some of the world’s leading experts to help inform physiotherapists of the latest trends in exercise rehabilitation for people with low back pain.

ENDS

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