Assessment type 2: Outcome

Topic: How prevalent is neck pain among teenagers? What are the leading factors causing it?

1. Introduction

In recent decades, the low-aging tendency of neck pain, as a newly-emerging issue, is drawing increasing attention throughout the world. A specialist reviewed the fact through an interview that a large number of students are tending to suffer from neck pain with the popularization of computers as well as the growing loads of study. Whereas, specific research on teenager neck pain seems to be vague, clear clues have not shown to the public. Over the last 5 months, the research conducted in this area has worked out the conclusion that improper living habits are threatening teenagers’ health of their neck. Detailed information about the prevalence and causing factors for the disease are displayed in this report.

2. Definition of teenage neck pain

Neck pain, which is called (cervical) spondylosis in medical term, is a kind of spinal compression attributes to the degeneration of disks and joints in the vertebrae. Unlike the pain in front of the neck, symptoms of neck pain usually behave as headaches, dizziness, and neck stiffness -- which sometimes radiates to the shoulders and limbs and thus lead to the feeling of weakness, numbness and pain (Penick, 2010). Compared to that among the elderly, neck pain among teenagers has some slight differences, chronic diseases like osteoporosis and HIVD (Herniation of intervertebral disc) are not common to see in young people. A new concept of “cervical spondylosis like disease” was proposed by Dr. Dong, Yan and Liang (2009) in Beijing. It was explained that teenage patients are often in the second peak of growth, which means the growth of their muscle may not follow the pace of the bones. Moreover, there is insufficient time for them to do sports under the circumstance they spend most of their time studying and sitting in front of computers or TV, which may worsen the situation. This type of neck pain, nevertheless, can be treated and the recovery is quick as long as the relevant knowledge and awareness are raised in the society. (Dong, Yan & Liang, 2009)

3. The prevalence of teenage neck pain

The increasing trend of neck pain is suffered among lower ages, especially in teenagers. A report about the development of teenage cervical vertebra in China suggested that 80% of teenagers in China are under threat of potential cervical vertebra problems (100 hospital of Chinese army, 2011). According to the survey conducted by Huang and Chen (2008) who are doctors of the First Central Hospital in Tian Jing, the portion of teenage patients rose sharply from 8.7% in 1996 to 12% in 2004. Moreover, amount to 87% of the sufferers are associated with cerebral Vasospasm (a condition in which blood vessels spasm, leading to vasoconstriction). At the same time, a survey in west Australia with 1593 14-year-old teenagers has also shown that some 5% of respondents suffer chronic neck and shoulder pain. (Cooper, 2008) The proportion of teenage neck pain patients of the last couple of years even appears to be 30%~40%. In particular, 24 out of 60 respondents of a survey (2011) conducted among teenagers are suffering from neck pain from which the main symptoms are soar backs, headaches, numbness, tingling and swishing sound in the head. Teenagers, nonetheless, extremely lack the awareness of self-prevention. Only one in tenth (6 teenagers) of the neck pain sufferers in the survey had ever seen a doctor; hence, it is evidenced by these data and survey facts that teenage neck pain can not be ignored.

4. Risking factors

4.1 Poor sitting posture

It is universally convinced that poor sitting posture is the leading cause of neck pain among teenagers. Refer to the pie charts 1&2, 30 teenagers who represent half of the respondents spend more than 13 hours sitting every day. The prior activities they praise after school are computer games and Internet surfing which are still sedentary

activities. As human head's weight is increased by 10 pounds for every inch the head goes forward refers to (Kichura, nd), heavy load of study and over use of computers naturally become the leading contributors to the illness due to the posture of the neck while look down. Specifically, human spine, which has three natural curves should be kept in proper alignment, risk of injury can be avoided only if equal weight balance is given to the body. ( Taori, 2010) However, poor posture such as slouching when doing homework or using computers force the spine maintain the same posture in a fixed position, thus KEEPING the muscle and ligament encircling the neck in a tight and stiff state which may straighten the Lordtic curve(cervical vertebra physical curvature).

(Fig, 1). (Xiao, 2008) Additionally, Neck pain caused by long-time use of laptop just follows the similar principle above. That is, due to the weak human engineering of laptops, users have to hang their heads so that they can see the screen which is set up in an over-short distance to the keyboard; thus, straining the muscles surrounding the neck, shoulders and upper limbs. (Xiao, 2008) As teenagers spend most of their time sitting, no matter at school or home, proper posture is of critical significance.

4.2 Improper sleeping posture

As we spend a third of our life sleeping, correct sleeping posture definitely comes in a vital position in the maintaining of a healthy spine. Either poor posture or an improper pillow can easily result in neck problems. The majority of people, however, are using unsuitable pillows which can lead to the degeneration of Lordtic curve. (Eftpos, 2011) Since human cervical vertebra shapes like a forward-bend curve, both ends of it will move down under gravity if the pillow is too high and thus it will enlarge the curve. In contrast, if the pillow is too low the middle part of the neck is hanging in the air and thus the curvature will disappear gradually.(Cui, Yuan& Zhou, 2006) Refer to figure 2 below, a right pillow should be designed without any space between humanbodies to

provide lasting support to people’s neck and head. With a proper posture and a right pillow, all parts of people's spine are aligned, which contributes to the good-quality sleep as well as a healthy spine. (Eftpos, 2011)

4.3 Injury and overload in back

Further to the poor posture, working long hours, sports injuries and overload in back can also be threatening factors. By corresponding to Sophie who is a physiotherapist working in Canada through email, it was found that the increasing weight of backpacks can force students' neck in an unnatural angle; hence, the muscles in the neck and shoulder have to work harder than they should. For the injury, sports, such as, soccer and skateboard can easily cause injury and thus giving gives rise to neck pain. Even if the two factors rarely happen, precautions should always be the prior.

5. Treatment

Once neck pain occurs, treatment can be divided into two main aspects.

5.1 Professionally

Professionally, acupuncture, massage, plaster and medicine are often adopted in teenagers.

5.2 Sports and exercises

Additionally, some sports and exercises have been proved as effective. For instance, swimming is an outstanding choice for both presentation and treatment as it is a whole-body-exercise. Blood circulation will be accelerated and the process of raising and lowering head exactly fits the principle of neck exercise. (Li, nd) Other sports like playing badminton and flying kite raised by Dr. Go are also of the same principle. To sum up, the combination of medical treatments and daily exercises are required to achieve the best results.

6. Prevention and precaution

The most significant consideration is always prevention even if the treatment efficiency is remarkable. It is proper lifestyle as well as good living habits that is the key to keep neck pain away from teenagers. The sitting posture proposed by experts requires students to raise their heads and lift their chests. A natural posture for head is when the ears are aligned with shoulder. (Gill, 2008) In that case, a docking port (Figure 3) is suggested to achieve a better relationship between the screen and the keyboard of

laptops. In addition, regular rest of 10~15 minutes for every 45 minutes' work deserves people's consciousness. Furthermore, it was told by Masseur Huang through the interview that a classic exercise called "Mi" exercise is widely recommended.( Move your neck in eight directions, just like the Chinese character"米", rhythmically.) Lastly, choose a suitable pillow and have a high-qualified sleep. It is every detailed habit in daily life that is the most effective.

7. Conclusion

On the whole, several points can be concluded from the research that neck pain as a chronic disease is threatening teenagers' health. Moreover, the situation is worsening with the development of society. The evidences collected from the experts and authoritative websites reviewed the fact that the risking factors of the neck pain among teenagers can be mainly attributed to the strain of neck which run squarely into the poor posture. While overuse of computers and heavy study are actually the primary indirect causes. Any how, the overwhelming task right now is to raise the conscious of the public on this issue. Additionally, close attention should be paid to teenagers before the situation gets any worse.

8. Future development

Professional clinics are focusing on neck pain among teenagers; hence, further development on this area in the future may hopefully fill the blank. Further more, relevant knowledge is tending to be generalized as a new global concept.

9. Reference

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