"If the topic weren't so serious, you could joke wildly. For example, it's no longer enough for young people these days to drink to their thirst and smoke at a younger age - now they have to have their back too. But when you look at current figures, such mockeries get stuck in your throat. Even if you don't think it's possible: According to a study by the Robert Koch Institute, in which over 17,000 young people were surveyed, back pain is the third most common complaint after headaches and stomach aches in children and young people aged 11 to 17. Although there are many causes that interact, one main cause can be identified: children sit too much and move too little.
- Mom, I have back!
- Young years spent sitting: A look at the causes
- Promote movement: The not so difficult counterprogram
- Sitting correctly: If you do, then it makes ergonomic sense
- Move correctly: exercises for a healthy child's back
- More information
Mom, I have back!
This finding is consistent with the fact that the “DAK” and the Forsa Institute found in a representative teacher survey that there has been an increase in motor deficits among students over the past ten years. Around 70 percent of teachers noted a general increase in health problems among students over the past ten years; Stress and psychosomatic complaints also increase. When looking for the causes, you quickly find yourself in predictable areas: all you need to do is look at the playgrounds in the residential areas, at the meadows in front of the city or in the direction of the football fields to see that there was once more life there. Children who spend the entire afternoon at the soccer field, on the BMX track or at the skate park, playing hide-and-seek in the forest or spending hours painting chalk paths for the scooter or cart on the street in front of the house have become a rarity. Of course, children are still out and about - they just come later and go home earlier.
Young years spent sitting: a look at the causes
Above all, the number of high school students in public spaces has likely decreased significantly in recent years. Since the Germany-wide switch from the nine-level high school to the so-called G8, with a few exceptions, students have had up to 36 hours per week instead of the previous 30 on their timetable. Added to this is homework and more tutoring sessions, because the same amount of material in less than twelve months is a calculation that simply doesn't add up for some people. Incidentally, an increased learning load can also be seen at secondary schools and secondary schools. Even at universities, students have to make do with less time: After the introduction of the bachelor's and master's systems, students graduate one to two years earlier, but they also spend longer at their desks and in the lecture hall while studying.
Children's natural urge to move, at least in elementary school, ensures that after lessons and homework, the students throw themselves into activities that are often too strenuous for a middle school student to even dream about. Sure: At 14 or 15 years old, soccer training for boys or hip-hop dance training for girls might still be cool. Otherwise, back-strengthening and physically demanding activities such as tree climbing face overwhelming competition from game consoles, social networks or television. What makes matters worse is that fewer and fewer parents are able to get by without a second income - which in turn enables teenagers to pursue their inclinations, which are not always healthy, to excess in a relatively uncontrolled manner.
It fits into the picture that doctors and health insurance companies are also recording an increase in cases of obesity, diabetes, joint pain or high blood pressure.
Promote movement: The not so difficult counterprogram
The “Healthy Back Campaign” (AGR) association also sees the reason for the constantly increasing number of students with back problems in “modern living conditions”. “According to recent surveys, almost half of primary school students have suffered from it at some point and among older young people the number rises to up to 80 percent,” according to a current press release. In it, the association, which has been involved in the prevention and treatment of the widespread disease “back pain” for 20 years, also suggests solutions to the widespread problem.
The experts therefore agree that two basic things must be taken into account in order to prevent tension in children's backs: lots of exercise and the right furniture. The managing director of the “Federal Working Group for Posture and Movement Promotion” (BAG), Dr. Dieter Breithecker advises that children exercise at least three hours a day. Most children have a great need to move anyway and want to run around, play and run on their own initiative. However, he advises parents to encourage this need, even if the child is enthusiastic about sports. Varied exercise that involves the whole body is better than early specialization in a single sport. This versatility provides important impulses for physical, mental and psychological development.
Sitting correctly: If you do, then it makes ergonomic sense
Surprisingly, ergonomics in children's furniture often plays a minor role in the perception of parents. But just as important as an optimally adjustable one Office chair or orthopedic office chair for adults, an ergonomic office chair is so important for children. The AGR has formulated an extensive catalog of criteria that children's seating furniture must meet in order to be awarded the AGR seal of quality as products that are particularly back-friendly. In addition to the ability to adapt to different postures and sitting positions, this includes height adjustability, suspension and ergonomic sitting and leaning properties. Three-dimensionally movable chairs or stools promote dynamic sitting and support children's natural desire to move. As a positive side effect, the ability to concentrate is improved.
The matching chair comes with an adjustable table. The AGR describes an inclination function of at least 16 degrees as important. The reason: A rigid and flat tabletop promotes tension in the neck. Especially given that the equipment in schools and universities often does not meet ergonomic standards, it is important that children and young people sit on good furniture at home - if they have to sit for a long time. According to experts, it would be desirable to use a dynamic teaching pedagogy with the possibility of alternating learning while sitting and standing.
Move correctly: exercises for a healthy child's back
As with adults, any kind of exercise is also good for children's backs. In principle, exactly the opposite of computer games is recommended: Instead of chasing tennis balls over a pixel field or chasing crooks through virtual space and not moving much more than the thumbs or hands, the child should move their entire body for a few hours. Except maybe the thumbs. Because when playing computer games, most people lounge in an armchair, putting only one side of the strain on their spine and, above all, not strengthening their back muscles. Like anything you don't use, the muscles in your back atrophy if you don't use them for too long. Regular exercise that challenges the whole body - for example swimming, athletics, cycling or climbing - is still the best way to prevent back pain. This is also the most effective way to avoid a problem that firstly affects your well-being and secondly, as a consequence, affects your back: obesity.
By the way, young people find it much easier to build muscle and lose weight healthily than older people and should therefore recognize the problem as early as possible, address it and make it part of their life - in order to avoid suffering from such problems for as long as possible. To put it bluntly: The mission must be to leave the issue of “back pain” to the old people again.
More information
The Homepage The “Schön Klinik” gives “strong tips for a healthy children’s back” and offers medically useful back exercises for school children.