Over a third of 18–24-year-olds have been prevented from working due to back pain.
14% of the 18–24-year-olds who stated they were left unable to work due to back pain conditions, were prevented from working for 10-12 months.
Over half of 18–24-year-olds are not registered with a GP (52%).
New data from the British Chiropractic Association shows that 50% of 18-24-year-olds in Britain have suffered with back pain in the last two years. As a result, over a third (34%)[1] were left unable to work due to their condition, with an alarming 14% of these respondents prevented from working for 10-12 months.[2]
Despite this, a staggering 64% of 18–24-year-olds experiencing symptoms, such as pain, thought their issues would go away on their own, with over half not registered with a GP (52%).[3] This compares with just 8% of 55-64-year-olds not registered with a GP.
Following the pandemic, back pain related issues rose by a third due to a rise in working from home,[4] with young adults aged under 34 twice as likely to work from their beds compared with older workers, resulting in habits which could exacerbate back pain.[5]
The BCA is advising young adults to incorporate five simple steps as part of their daily routine to reduce symptoms, including:
- Take a stand: Inactivity is a leading cause of back pain. If you spend most of your day sitting down, whether that’s while working, studying, or during your down-time playing video games or watching TV, you must take regular breaks, ideally every 20-30 minutes. Stand up, change position, and walk around a little.
- Start the day right and keep on moving: With 60% of sufferers managing their MSK condition with exercise,[6] physical activity can certainly be beneficial for managing back pain. Aim to incorporate at least 30 minutes of movement into your day. If you prefer activities that are of a moderate to high intensity, it’s important that you warm up and cool down properly, and if a previous injury is causing you pain, adapt your exercise or seek advice. Activities such as swimming, walking or yoga can be less demanding on your body, while keeping you mobile and strong!
- Improve your WFH set-up: If you often study or work while sitting at a desk, make sure your workspace is set up to support a comfortable position. It’s important to keep your laptop in front of you at eye height to avoid any strain on your neck, so try altering your chair height or invest in a laptop stand or tray table to help improve your posture. If you work from home (WFH) most days, try including a morning commute by heading out the door, getting some fresh air and doing a lap of your area before heading to the laptop.
- Straighten Up!: Try incorporating some simple exercises and stretches into your daily routine which support better posture. The BCA has developed a series of exercises designed to prevent back pain by promoting balance, strength and flexibility in the spine.
- Seek out support: You can seek support at any time, but if your symptoms of back or joint pain aren’t shifting with these tips or last more than a week or so, or they prevent you from carrying out your daily routines, you should consider seeing a chiropractor for advice. You can find a registered chiropractor on the BCA’s ‘Find a Chiropractor’ page.
Discussing the new findings, Catherine Quinn, Chiropractor and President of the BCA, said, “The prevalence of back pain issues among young adults, particularly those caused by inactivity from their jobs, is alarming to see. It’s important to remember that proactive self-care is key to maintaining a healthy body and can have wide ranging physical and mental health benefits. This includes incorporating exercise and movement into daily life, getting a good balance of rest, eating well, and getting into nature when you can. But, if issues arise, then a qualified healthcare professional, such as a chiropractor, will be able to guide you through getting back on track. It’s often a case of discussing the wide range of environmental factors, such as work, stress, physical load and nutrition, which have led to the symptoms you’re experiencing, then working through how to best improve that environment.
Chiropractors are well placed to provide you with care which is personalised and focussed on your individual needs, be that to get back to work, sport or your day-to-day life. If you are experiencing back pain, the best thing to do is to listen to your body, try to move gently through our Straighten Up UK stretches, and seek advice and support from a BCA chiropractor.”
To find your local BCA chiropractor, visit, https://chiropractic-uk.co.uk/find-a-chiropractor/
About the British Chiropractic Association: The BCA is the largest and longest-standing association for chiropractors in the UK and has been named ‘Best Professional Body of the Year’ at the Memcom Excellence Awards 2022 for its Repositioning Project which has played a pivotal role in changing the healthcare landscape for the better. As well as promoting international standards of education and exemplary conduct, the BCA supports chiropractors to progress and develop to fulfil their professional ambitions with honour and integrity, at every step. The BCA is raising awareness about the rigour, relevance and evidence driving the profession and the association’s ambition for chiropractic to be more closely embedded within mainstream healthcare.
The BCA is the home for chiropractors who provide patient-centred, evidence-based care and offer full transparency to their patients. Through the Patient Charter BCA chiropractors provide reassurance to their patients and that they will empower them to make an informed decision about their treatment.
[1] British Chiropractic Association One Poll consumer survey, 2023
[2] British Chiropractic Association One Poll consumer survey, 2023
[3] British Chiropractic Association One Poll consumer survey, 2023
[4] British Chiropractic Association One Poll consumer survey, 2021
[5] https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210217-is-it-bad-to-you-work-from-your-bed-for-a-year
[6] British Chiropractic Association One Poll consumer survey, 2023
