3 Reasons to Check Your Child’s Posture

Posture while using phones could lead to ‘Text Neck’

We all want our children to grow up healthy and strong, which is why keeping an eye on their posture is so important.

When kids begin to slouch and develop poor habits early on, the long-term effects can turn into a lifetime of problems. Here’s why.

1. Strain. When their spine isn’t in proper alignment, extra muscle strain is placed on the neck and back, which can trickle out to the entire body.

2. Organ function. Our spine helps our skeletal frame protect our internal organs. When it changes shape, stress can wreak havoc on their organs.

The biggest concern of poor posture is Forward Head Carriage also known as ‘text neck’.

3. Forward head carriage. Kids are spending more and more time slouched over on phones and tablets. According to one study, users are looking down at their device an average of 700 to 1400 hours each year (1.5-3.5 hours per day).  Research to be published in the Surgical Technology International journal modeled the impact of leaning the head forward in terms of force on the cervical spine. In a normal standing position, the human head exerts 4.5 to 5.4 kg (10 to 12 pounds), but when the head tilts forwards at a 60 degree angle, the force exerted on the cervical spine is more than 27 kg (60 pounds).  This can cause constriction of their blood vessels and nerve issues, leading to headaches, carpal tunnel, shoulder pain & more.

How is text neck treated?

First, prevention is key. Here are several pieces of advice for preventing the development or advancement of text neck:

  • Hold your cell phone at eye level as much as possible. The same holds true for all screens—laptops and tablets should also be positioned so the screen is at eye level and you don’t have to bend your head forward or look down to view it.
  • Addressing poor classroom seating and lugging heavy school bags
  • Reduce hours spent watching TV and playing video games are also believed to have contributed to the “epidemic of poor posture
    Before and after chiropractic care

    Chiropractic aims to restore the natural curve of the cervical (neck) spine.

Second, Try Chiropractic.

After low back pain, neck pain is the second most common reason people see a chiropractor. Chiropractic adjustments will help restore normal joint function and can reduce/eliminate muscular tension.

 

If you’re concerned about your child’s posture, consider bringing them in for a FREE check, Book Online today here.

Dr Theo Blöte

Chiropractor