When I’m not quoting Ice Cube, I’m busy playing video games, much like many of you. I’ll be honest: my back and neck hurt like nobody’s business after long gaming sessions. It may seem like a job for our very own Captain Obvious to tell you that gamers’ “prolonged sitting posture” would be a cause their back and neck pain, but the New Zealand Manipulative Physiotherapists Association are already on the case, so we’ll let them take this one.
The NZMPA says that “passive entertainment systems” (which is apparently their name for game consoles) may have something to do with young gamers’ aches and pains:
This seems on the cards considering the associated health problems of obesity, reduced levels of activity, and the popularity of passive entertainment systems such as PlayStations that encourage further inactivity and prolonged sitting posture in the adolescent age group.
The trend of back pain is increasing in teens, and it may be a losing battle. Australian physiotherapist Peter O’Sullivan says that these back problems are developing in early teen years, and are commonly caused by sporting activity or “static postures”. In other words, those that move too much or too little can be affected.
[Via GamePolitics — Thanks, Justin]
