A study financed by FAPESP and released in the scientific journal Healthcare discovered many risk factors for spinal health, including gazing at screens for more than three hours per day, sitting or lying on the stomach, and sitting or sleeping on the back.

The research concentrated on thoracic spine discomfort (TSP). The thoracic spine runs from the bottom of the neck to the beginning of the lumbar spine and is placed in the back of the chest (the thorax). The information analyzed was gathered from surveys of 14- to 18-year-old male and female high school students who were in their first and second years.

A baseline questionnaire was completed by 1,628 individuals between March and June 2017, with 1,393 completing a follow-up questionnaire in 2018. The study found a one-year prevalence of 38.4% (the proportion of those who reported TSP in both the baseline and follow-up questionnaires) and a one-year incidence of 10.1%. Girl students reported more TSP compared to boy students. 

TSP is prevalent in various age groups of the general population worldwide, with prevalence ranging from 15%-35% in adults and 13%-35% in children and adolescents. The rapid increase in the usage of electronic gadgets during the COVID-19 epidemic certainly exacerbated the situation. According to various studies, the risk factors connected with TSP are physical, physiological, psychological, and behavioral. The World Health Organization (WHO) deems these factors important in its most current global review of evidence and guidelines. There is also substantial evidence that physical exercise, sedentary behaviors, and mental illnesses all impact spine health.

The findings may be utilized to inform health education initiatives for students, instructors, administrators, and parents. Knowledge of TSP risk factors in high school kids is crucial since children and adolescents who suffer from back pain are less active, perform worse academically, and have more psychological difficulties.

(Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/use-of-smartphones-for-more-than-3-hours-a-day-causes-back-pain-in-teens-101680937562373.html)