Younger Generation Battling Back Pain: Rising Cases in 20s

On Apr 12, 2025

Technology Use and Its Impact on Posture Health

Once upon a time, the average age of musculoskeletal patients was closer to forty. However, that age has dropped closer to thirty nowadays. More so, a considerable number of patients in their late twenties are presenting with serious spinal issues. But these patients aren’t showing up with injuries or accidents; they’re struggling with daily repetitive strain.

Working as a chartered physiotherapist specializing in muscular strain and posture related to technology, the demand for such services is ever on the rise. Over the past few years, there’s been an influx of people experiencing pain related to their posture at a large health and wellness company. The two most common causes of such issues are improper laptop usage and excessive mobile phone usage.

Today, we can’t distinguish whether a problem is work-related or home-related. That’s because technology usage has thoroughly permeated all aspects of our lives, causing strain whether you’re working or simply scrolling through Instagram.

The Effects of Technology Usage on Younger Generations

Musculoskeletal problems among children and teenagers are rising, with NHS referrals for those aged 18 and under increasing by 50% since 2019. The recent wave of younger patients comes from the first generation who used mobile phones in secondary school and smartphones in their early twenties. These technology users have consistently adopted the habit of taking their laptops everywhere, allowing them to work from any location.

Their constant hunching over their laptops and mobile phones has resulted in many experiencing the “office posture” strain even before they step foot in a real office. The impact of these habits on their health is worryingly obvious.

The Evolution of Repetitive Strain Injury Understanding

Journalists, who were among the first to work closely with technology under the stress of tight daily deadlines, were initially the most affected. This issue was known as repetitive strain injury, or RSI, a condition that confused many medical professionals due to the wide and varied symptoms. Consequently, many patients were signed off with a long and slow recovery journey.

However, our understanding has improved since then. RSI is now known not as a diagnosis but a mechanism of injury. We now refer to these as work-related upper limb disorders (WRULDs), an umbrella term that includes various symptoms common to screen-based workers. These conditions include frozen shoulder, neck pain, back pain, headaches, arm pain, tendinitis, carpel tunnel syndrome, disc prolapse, and slipped disc.

Approaching the Issue of Postural Strain

These conditions don’t arise from sudden injury. Rather, they develop gradually due to the activities we perform in our daily life and the postures these activities require. For instance, it’s not uncommon to hear of someone who works all week only to throw their back out while loading a dishwasher over the weekend. The dishwasher was merely the last straw that broke the camel’s back.

There are simple guidelines to work setups and posture changes that can make a huge difference in minimizing load and strain, thereby protecting your spine. These include setting up your workstation correctly, with the right screen height, sufficient back support from your chair, and appropriate space around you.

Implementing these changes is especially important given the long waiting lists for health services. While gym and exercise are beneficial, it’s also essential to reclaim screen-free time in your daily routine. For instance, refraining from phone use while walking and using that time to stretch your neck and spine can go a long way in promoting better musculoskeletal health.

Recognizing the Silent Danger of Screen Time

Watching the Netflix series Adolescence has raised fear and concern among many parents. However, beyond worrying about the content young people are exposed to, there’s another hidden danger lurking in the background: the effect all that screen time is having on their spines.