Forum: A wake-up call for the young to take care of their backs

I was struck to read that degenerative disc disease is something young people like me should be concerned about too, and not just people in their 50s and 60s (Bad back: More teens and young adults in Singapore hit with degenerative disc disease, Dec 17).

While factors like genetics are beyond our control, the article highlighted lifestyle habits, such as poor posture, a sedentary lifestyle and improper exercise techniques, as risk factors.

In our increasingly digitalised and fast-paced world, it is common to see teenagers hunched over their phones, tablets and laptops.

This is now our wake-up call to correct our posture and to take breaks from prolonged sitting or standing.

Simple stretches and exercises would help much, and give our eyes a break too.

Exercising smartly is equally important. For example, we should practise proper exercise techniques to avoid straining our backs.

Beyond these personal habits, students should also be taught right posture – something we tend to overlook today.

I’m sure we all want pain-free lives in the future, don’t we? 

Michelle Chen Kaixuan, 16
Secondary 4