What parents need to know
Both screen time duration and physical inactivity correlate with spinal pain in pre-adolescents, with strongest associations for screen time. School-mandated device use is giving children back pain.
Full Citation
Jørgensen, M.B., Strandberg-Larsen, K., Andersen, A.N., Hestbaek, L., & Andersen, L.L. (2021). Spinal pain in pre-adolescence and the relation with screen time and physical activity behaviour. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 22, 887.
Publication Type
Peer-reviewed research article published in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
What They Studied
Danish researchers examined the relationship between screen time, physical activity levels, and spinal pain (neck, upper back, and lower back pain) in pre-adolescent children. The study investigated whether the amount of time children spend on screens correlates with musculoskeletal complaints and whether this relationship is independent of physical activity levels.
Key Findings
- “Findings indicate that both duration of screen time and physical inactivity are correlated with spinal pain in pre-adolescents with the strongest associations for screen time”
- Screen time showed stronger correlation with spinal pain than even physical inactivity
- This suggests screen time isn’t just problematic because it’s sedentary, but because of the specific postures and positions it requires
- Pre-adolescent children are experiencing back, neck, and shoulder pain at concerning rates
- The correlation was found across all types of spinal pain: neck, upper back, and lower back
- Prolonged device use typically involves poor posture – hunched shoulders, forward head position, rounded spine
- These postures put significant strain on developing musculoskeletal systems
- For children whose schools require extensive device use, pain may begin during the school day and persist
- The physical health effects of classroom technology are rarely considered in adoption decisions
- Parents may not connect their child’s complaints of back or neck pain to school device use
- Pre-adolescence is a critical period for physical development – chronic pain at this age can lead to long-term problems
- Schools mandating significant device use should consider the musculoskeletal health implications
