"Surfnacke"- ett växande hälsoproblem bland ungdomar?
Skärmbaserade aktiviteter, fysisk inaktivitet, muskuloskeletala symptom och smärtintensitet
The aim of this study was to analyse ninth graders self reported screen based activities, sedentary time and musculoskeletal symptoms and pain intensity. The other aim was to examine changes regarding musculoskeletal pain and inactivity between ninth graders from a cross sectional study in year 2004. To meet this aim, following questions were designed: How is the relationship between screen based activities, inactivity, musculoskeletal symptoms, pain intensity and differences between girls and boys? How have musculoskeletal symptoms and screen time changed since year 2004?Method: The method used for this study was a quantitative method. The research was carried out using a questionnaire that was answered by pupils from 11 schools from all over Sweden. The response rate was 85 % (n=465). The level of statistical significance was set at p<0.05.Results: Mobile phones were used three times more by girls and TV Games were used seven times more by the boys. Tablet computers were used more randomly by 80% of the youths. Headache occurred 58% and neck pain occurred 68 % with those who used mobile phone >3 and >5 hours per day. Backache occurred with 19% of those watching TV > 3 hrs. Headache ongoing for more than a month occurred twice as much among the girls and was perceived as having a severe effect on everyday life. Boys reported neck ache and shoulder ache longer than a month somewhat to a greater extent. Nearly twice as many of the boys considered themselves being more physical active and resemble the most active person. Total sedentary time was not significant but a third of the youths reported that sitting time for 7-9 hrs during weekdays and 4-6 hrs during weekends. Differences between 2004 and 2013 showed that occurrence of ache and continuous back pain decreased whilst headache and continuous back pain increased with the boys.Conclusions: Headaches, neck pain and backaches are common among 9th graders and it seems to be a relationship with time exposure to different screen activities. Further research investigating gender differences and pain is important, in particular among girls who seem to be more vulnerable.