Back and neck pain are among the most common complaints heard in doctors’ offices around the country. Approximately 620 million people deal with back pain globally at any given time. Here in the U.S., we lose a combined 83 million work days every year to back pain. So a new poll suggesting that Gen Zers are more likely than their older counterparts to miss work with neck and back pain shouldn’t be surprising.
Why Gen Z? According to researchers, those who make up Gen Z qualify as the first truly digital generation. They are the first generation to have never experienced life without digital devices. And more than any other generation, they live on their cell phones and computers.
What the Numbers Say
The recently released survey, conducted by Alvica Medical, shows that Gen Z workers take more time off from work with back and neck pain than their counterparts in older generations. Approximately 24% admitted to calling in sick with pain within the last 12 months. Here is how the other three generations fared:
- Gen Xers – 12%
- Baby Boomers – 14%
- Millennials – 18%
Personally, I am not surprised that millennials take second place behind Gen Z. I am surprised that more baby boomers miss work due to neck and back pain than Gen Xers – simply because they tend to work less due to retirement and semi-retirement. Be that as it may, the numbers are what they are.
The Presence of Physical Deformities
Across all age groups, 63% report having experienced neck and back pain within the last 12 months. Part of the blame goes to a relatively new condition doctors are calling “tech neck”. Tech neck is actually a physical deformity represented as a curvature of the upper spine. The main culprit? Poor posture over many years.
In its review of the Alvica Medical, the NY Post published images provided by an Iowa chiropractor clearly showing what tech neck looks like in real world scenarios. The chiropractor went on to share that tech neck is a real danger among people who spend the majority of their days looking down at their phones and other mobile devices.
Interestingly, some of his x-rays also showed skeletal “horns” growing at the base of the skulls of some of his patients. These horns are bony outgrowths that are believed to be the result of additional stress put on the neck muscles as a result of constantly looking down. Medically speaking, they are known as external occipital protuberances. No matter what they are called, they could be the source of some neck and back pain.
The Solution Is Simple
Fortunately, the solution to the whole problem is quite simple: practice good posture. Talking about good posture is normal practice at Lone Star Pain Medicine in Weatherford, TX. Practicing it is the most effective preventative measure anyone can take to avoid tech neck and the associated pain.
Lone Star physicians recommend:
- Limiting screen time with mobile devices.
- Holding mobile devices up higher when they are used.
- Positioning computer monitors so that they are at eye level.
- Investing in an ergonomic (work) chair that promotes proper posture.
Chronic neck and back pain seem to be more prominent than ever before. That could be just my own perception. One thing is for sure though, Gen Z workers are more likely than their older counterparts to experience neck and back pain as a result of digital devices. It would appear that one’s risk of neck and back pain goes up with the use of mobile phones and tablets.
