Survey Finds 93% of Hong Kong Children Aged 7+ Have Spine Problems
AM730 · 1 SOURCESabout 5 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
The Children's Spine Foundation released findings on Monday from its free spine and posture screening program and lifestyle survey conducted between 2024 and September 2026, covering 13,176 Hong Kong schoolchildren under the age of 18. The data paints a worrying picture of deteriorating spinal health, particularly among older children who have grown up with pervasive access to smartphones and tablets.
Key Points
- The survey found that 93.4% of schoolchildren aged seven and above have spine or posture problems, compared to just 6.6% with no issues at all
- Among children aged 1-6, the proportion without posture problems ranged from 14.3% to 24.8%, significantly better than their older counterparts
- Roundback (kyphosis) remained the most common issue for the third consecutive year, affecting 56.94% of all children surveyed and over 60% of those aged seven and above
- Forward head posture, commonly called "turtle neck," was found in 67.8% of children aged seven and above versus 37.9% of younger children
- Suspected scoliosis rates reached approximately 40% overall, with 56.3% of older children affected compared to 30.1% in the younger children group
- Over 20% of children aged seven and above use electronic devices for more than two hours daily, a habit the foundation links to both spine and sleep problems
- Registered chiropractor Pang Kwan-kin emphasized that flat feet and spinal issues are interconnected, as prolonged downward head tilt causes cascading postural problems
Why It Matters
These findings highlight a growing public health concern as Hong Kong's children spend increasingly long hours on screens, potentially setting the stage for chronic spinal disorders in adulthood. The foundation is calling for policy changes including lowering the government-sponsored spine check age from 10 to 6 years, as well as practical measures such as enforcing 30-minute activity breaks after every 30 minutes of screen time .
These findings highlight a growing public health concern as Hong Kong's children spend increasingly long hours on screens, potentially setting the stage for chronic spinal disorders in adulthood. The foundation is calling for policy changes including lowering the government-sponsored spine check age from 10 to 6 years, as well as practical measures such as enforcing 30-minute activity breaks after every 30 minutes of screen time .