The findings revealed that more than half (54%) of 16-24 year olds say they have struggled with back or neck pain now or in the past and, of those who have suffered, 51% said they experience back or neck pain when they feel stressed.
As the exam period can be a stressful time for many students, the back experts at the BCA are encouraging those taking exams to incorporate simple steps into their daily routine to help ensure back or neck pain doesn’t impact on their studies.
BCA chiropractor, Mark Jones, said: “The exam period is a busy and often demanding time for students and it’s important that they are able to keep their full focus on revision and preparation. While stress doesn’t cause back and neck pain it can exacerbate the symptoms, so it’s important that students take steps to ensure this doesn’t affect their work.
“Simple actions such as taking breaks during long stretches of revision and ensuring you’re not sitting hunched over your notes or laptop could make a big difference.”
The research also revealed that half (49%) of 16-24 year olds who have suffered from back or neck pain admitted they feel the strain at least once a week and more than a third (35%) said they had been struggling for up to two years.
The BCA has the following tips for students: