17/06/2026
Here's a number that should stop you scrolling: roughly 8 in 10 Australian teenagers aren't moving enough — and around 9 in 10 are over the recommended screen time. 📱
That's the reality for a lot of kids right now. School at a desk, homework on a screen, downtime on the couch with a phone or a binge-watch. The body that's built to run, climb and muck around outside is spending more of its day folded into a chair.
And it's not just a "kids these days" thing — across all ages, sitting has quietly become our default setting. Long stretches at a desk, in the car, on the couch. Movement is the thing our spines are actually designed for, and we're doing less and less of it.
Here's why it matters: prolonged sitting and inactivity are linked to a rise in back pain and spinal health concerns — and back pain doesn't stop at the body. It feeds into stress, fatigue and low mood, in kids and adults alike.
The fix isn't a gym membership or a grand plan. It's movement, often. Get up every 30–40 minutes. Swap one screen session for a walk, a kick of the footy, a bit of backyard chaos. Small, regular movement beats the occasional big effort every time.
It's Spinal Health Month, and the message holds for every age: a healthy spine supports a healthy mind.
We're an ACA practice in Inverell 🌳 — if you've got a kid who's always sore, or you're feeling the effects of too much sitting yourself, come have a chat. Free resources at spinalhealth.org.au.
