| Are Computer games responsible for increased | | | | concerned with the understanding of the |
| back pain cases among the nation's teenagers? | | | | interrelationships of structure and function |
| | | | of living beings with respect to the |
| The problem of low back and neck pain in | | | | kinematics and kinetics of motion" |
| teenagers is likely to increase significantly | | | | |
| in years to come, | | | | Poor Posture associated by the following: |
| | | | |
| This seems on the cards considering the | | | | Genetic disorders, Familial association, |
| associated health problems of obesity, | | | | Irregular/no exercise, Bad habits when |
| reduced levels of activity, and the | | | | sitting or standing, Carrying excess loads, |
| popularity of passive entertainment systems | | | | (School/shopping) Underweight/Overweight |
| such as play stations that encourage further | | | | (Inadequate diet) |
| inactivity and prolonged sitting posture in | | | | |
| the adolescent age group. | | | | Mental Attitude towards oneself. |
| | | | |
| Terry O'Brien of Back Trouble UK says "While | | | | Biomechanics is our way of describing how |
| 80 percent of the population are likely to | | | | each bit of your body moves in relation to |
| experience low back pain at some stage in | | | | another bit. |
| their life, there is a worrying trend in the | | | | |
| amount of back pain experienced by teenagers. | | | | Our bodies are fantastic at compensating when |
| | | | things are not quite perfect but |
| It is well founded that having another family | | | | unfortunately when we run out of |
| member with a history of back pain means you | | | | compensations we usually end up with pain and |
| are more likely to develop back pain as an | | | | stiffness. |
| adolescent. As does poor family functioning | | | | |
| and increased life stress. | | | | Let's have a look at some of the more common |
| | | | biomechanical problems: |
| Higher levels of stress, anxiety and | | | | |
| depression are also associated with | | | | Problem 1. |
| adolescent back pain. | | | | |
| | | | It's the fashion not to tie trainers and |
| Back pain is commonly provoked by sporting | | | | shoes up but this prevents the shoe from |
| activity and static postures such as sitting. | | | | supporting the inside of the foot and allows |
| It is also known that specific sporting | | | | the foot to roll or 'pronate' too much in |
| groups such as rowers are at higher risk of | | | | standing and walking. |
| back pain. | | | | |
| | | | This means the knee and the hip rolls inwards |
| Children seem to fall into two broad groups, | | | | too much which makes the inside calf and |
| those doing very little activity and those | | | | inside thigh muscle shorter. The iliotibial |
| doing too much. Both groups are prone to back | | | | band can then rub against the outside knee |
| pain.However it is the worrying trend of | | | | giving pain. |
| inactivity amongst adolescents that is the | | | | |
| greatest cause for concern. Fuelled by the | | | | Further up, the bottom muscles become too |
| dramatic increase in computer games and | | | | long and stop working as they should do which |
| multi-media consoles." | | | | puts added stress on the pelvis and low back |
| | | | joints. Before you know it you have back |
| Let us now look at Bio-Mechanics. | | | | pain, knee pain and ankle pain! And all |
| | | | because of fashion! |
| Bio-mechanics and its association to Back | | | | |
| Pain. | | | | Problem 2. |
| | | | |
| When our body is in the standing position it | | | | Whether you drive 5 miles or 500 miles a day |
| is in a state of unsteady equilibrium because | | | | your car seat is really important. In many |
| the base is small and the centre of gravity | | | | cars the base of the seat slopes backwards. |
| is a long way above it. That is why it has to | | | | In fact some of the more expensive cars are |
| be balanced by keeping the centre of gravity | | | | the worst because they want you to feel |
| over the base, otherwise the body would fall | | | | 'snug' and safe in the seat. However, this |
| over. | | | | position forces your pelvis to sit too far |
| | | | backwards. |
| Equilibrium: The steadiness of the body | | | | |
| depends on the size of its base and the | | | | Once this happens your low back and upper |
| distance of the centre of gravity from that | | | | back flex forward too much but then your neck |
| base. An object having a large base and a low | | | | muscles have to work really hard to stop your |
| centre of gravity is not easily upset. | | | | head from flexing too much and allow you to |
| | | | see where you are going. This position then |
| The first thing necessary in order to | | | | forces your shoulder blades to stretch too |
| accomplish good posture is to straighten the | | | | far forwards and a large stress is placed on |
| neck, keep the chin down and back. The second | | | | both the front and the back of the shoulder. |
| important thing is correct deep breathing. | | | | |
| | | | The result is neck pain and /or upper or low |
| The line of gravity in the fundamental | | | | back pain. This position can exacerbate |
| standing position falls in front of the ears, | | | | sciatica as it is a big stretch for the |
| and in front of the cervical and dorsal | | | | nerves. |
| vertebrae, through the lumbar vertebrae, | | | | |
| through the hip joint, and slightly in front | | | | The solution is to raise the back of the seat |
| of the ankle joint. But this probably varies | | | | so it becomes more horizontal. Some cars |
| in individuals according to their build and | | | | allow you to alter this angle but if yours |
| height. | | | | does not then sit on a small cushion or buy a |
| | | | special wedge shape cushion that fits into |
| "Biomechanics is that branch of science | | | | the seat. |