Lazy young men suffer the consequences

This is a massive 75% jump in a study involving 2000 British men. Looking at the figures you might assume that these men are older and possibly suffering other health issues. This is not the case. The onset of pain is when men are still in their physical prime, at age 37. Something has to be done.

The experts who conducted the study point to lifestyle factors as the cause of back and neck pain, so we can assume the statistics in Australia and the USA must be similar.  It should come as no surprise to anyone who has read a health column that modern life encourages laziness when it comes to physical activity.

Although people are busier than ever and working incredibly hard to meet their obligations: working long hours, commuting, household chores and child rearing, these daily demands dictate uninterrupted hours seated in-front of screens. However, a healthy body requires frequent physical movement.  

Chiropractor Tim Hutchful said of the findings: “People now have lifestyles when part of their life is very sedentary and then another part is manic. They might commute to work in their car, they sit on their backsides all day, then play five-a-side football once a week- and that is when the problems happen.”

The economic cost of back pain is substantial. The BCA study follows statistics revealed 10 million working days were lost to back pain last year in the UK alone. Society as a whole has a vested interest in reducing the alarming back pain figures. As prevention is the most effective remedy, individuals need to take action to reduce their risk of back pain.

As an individual you can incorporate movement into your daily activities. All men should do enough physical activity to strengthen their back and neck muscles that otherwise cannot support the demands of the body.  Observe the tone of your muscles (note that muscle tone is unrelated to weight). If the muscles are soft it is an indication that you need to move.

The BCA suggest rising from your desk every twenty minutes and take a quick walk.  An activity this simple has a cumulative effect over time, the change doesn’t have to be drastic like body building at the gym.

You might also be interested in Bad Backs’ range of standing desks

Men, more so than women, tend to mask symptoms with over the counter pain killers. If pain killers are needed for more than a few days then a doctor needs to seen in order to resolve the problem, or you might exacerbate the damage.

Good posture is always key to preventing back pain. Be aware of how you sit at a gaze at a computer or device. Check that you are not leaning forward. Instead, keep your head positioned over the neck and back. Leaning forward adds about 4 kilograms of weight – extra strain the back doesn’t need to support.

Yoga is a great recreational activity for improving muscle tone. The postures in yoga are designed to keep your body fit, flexible, strong – as young as it can be for as long as possible.  It is challenging but it incredibly popular for satisfaction it brings and its ability to relieve stress. There are so many interpretations of yoga that there is a class for to suit everyone’s tastes.  

While the particular study from the BCA focused on men, the recommendations are appropriate for all genders.