With school kids and Uni students these days learning form home, e-learning has started to become the norm, with the chalk and talk of the classroom and moving between class being replaced by hours each day sitting in one space on their digital devices.
While our devices can be fantastic tools for entertainment and education, the postural effects are something all parents should be aware of. From what I am seeing in many students, e-learning is increasing neck, mid-back, and low back pain not to mention the headaches and postural issues.
Spending 6 or more hours each day looking down at your digital devices can profoundly affect your mental, social, and physical health.
It can also lead to the development of “Tech Neck Syndrome.”
This forward head posture often places tremendous stress on the neck (cervical spine) and can lead to the upturn being seen in headaches, back and neck pain, and more.
Did you know…
- Low back pain is the 3rd most common form of pain interfering with schoolwork.
- It’s estimated that 50.3% of school-aged children present with posture disorders.
- In fact, approximately 41.6% of children experience back pain from prolonged sitting.
Making it a habit to look up (literally!) throughout the day is a significant first step in reducing the effects of “Tech Neck.”
There are a number of things that you can try.
Firstly use your electronic devices correctly. Follow this link for tips on using your phone.
You also need to introduce movement. If you do not move your body starts to get ‘rusty’. To keep your body mobile and fluid, try this.
- Pull your chin back, stretch your arms out in front of you and open them wide, and look up to the ceiling and hold for 20-30 seconds.
- Try and repeat this stretch every 30 minutes to help reset your posture and body position.
And if your child spends every day at their computer learning, be sure to teach them this stretch and then schedule a visit with our practice.
We’ll provide you with a full postural and movement-based assessment to identify any potential issues to help reduce their chance of suffering from “Tech Neck Syndrome.”
Proudly presented by Family Chiropractic Chatswood, your trusted source for expert chiropractic guidance.
Science Source(s):
Text Neck Syndrome. Intl Journal of Env Research and Public Health. 2021.
Back Pain in School Children. Dynamic Chiropractic. 1995.
School Children’s Backpacks, Back Pain and Back Pathologies. Arch Dis Child. 2012
