How are smartphones and tablets damaging our children's spines?
Have you noticed the posture your child adopts when using a tablet or phone? We regret to say that we are increasingly being approached by parents who are concerned about their children's abnormal posture. Children themselves are increasingly experiencing back pain, particularly in the cervical region. We see a great deal of surprise from both children and parents when it turns out that the smartphone is to blame for the above problems.
Introducing ergonomics in the use of mobile devices will have a positive impact not only on the child's body, but also on his or her sleep, concentration, social interaction and emotional coping. That is, the daily functioning of the child and the whole family will become easier.
We invite you dear parents to face the smartphone "monster" 😉 and to take up the fight for a better future for your children.
Tremendous forces act on a child's cervical region when bending their head over a smartphone.
The spine is the foundation of our body; its correct position ensures stability and static-dynamic performance. Unfortunately, when we tilt our head while using mobile devices, there is a great deal of pressure on our neck. The head weighs, approximately 5.5 kg. If we bend our head, the pressure on our neck is from 12 to 27 kg. As the lever arm lengthens, gravity begins to be our enemy. The greater the angle of inclination, the more strain the neck takes on. This situation can lead to excessive muscle tension, nerve compression, its curvature and other serious future ailments such as spinal herniation.
Source: Dr Ken Hansraj
When a child sits with his or her head tilted, the weight of the head is not carried by the skeletal system, but by the dorsal muscles in the cervical region and the muscles of the suboccipital. They have to remain under constant tension, which causes them to contract and tighten. In contrast, the neck muscles located in front weaken and atrophy.
As a result, our head remains in constant forward extension and the body tries to balance such a situation and our posture changes.
▪ Some muscles remain over-stressed others over-stretched and inactive.
▪ Increased thoracic kyphosis ( so-called hump), the shoulders move forward, the pelvis misaligns which in turn affects the hips, knees and feet.
▪ The condition of the entire spine and body deteriorates, the balance between the flexors and extensors is disturbed. This situation can cause postural defects and pain in the spine and joints.
The impact of smartphone use on children's spines:
⚡ extending the head to forward - abolition cervical lordosis spine
⚡ bent back - increase in thoracic kyphosis spine
⚡ scoliosis (lateral curvature of the spine)
⚡ pain in the cervical region of the spine
⚡ constant tension of the neck extensor muscles and weakness of the neck flexor muscles
⚡ excessive muscle tension in the shoulder girdle
⚡ coding of the faulty pattern postural in the nervous system, so that an incorrect position becomes natural and fixed for us.
How to protect your child's spine when using smartphones?
Let's keep our children's spines in mind. In order to prevent big problems in the future, it is enough to follow important rules.
✔ First of all, let's consider whether the child needs to spend so much time with the tablet in his or her hands. Often this time can be significantly reduced.
✔If he already has to use mobile devices, let's make sure he has the right attitude and help introduce smart facilities.
✔ The screen should always be at the child's eye level if possible.
✔ Should be held with both hands to avoid asymmetry.
✔Frequent changes of position and breaks for spinal mm stretching exercises.
✔The spine in all its sections should be supported, in the cervical section too.
When we have to spend a lot of time at our desk, let's place the tablet on an elevated position (stand or stack of books). This will reduce the tilt of the neck and reduce neck pain.
What if you notice an abnormal spinal position in your child?
👉 See a paediatric physiotherapist as soon as possible. He or she will first examine the child thoroughly and then explain the You why the importance of correct posture at each stage of a child's life and into adulthood. He or she will plan therapy with the main aim of returning systems that have begun to work pathologically to normal function. The end result, will be the correction of posture alignment and correct ergonomic work of the spine, which should become a habit and priority for us for the rest of our lives!!!
👉 consider whether time with a smartphone can be reduced (I'm sure you will 😉)
👉 make sure your child gets enough physical activity (I'm sure you won't 😉)
What can parents do for their children to protect their spines from postural defects?
Is the only solution to throw away smartphones ?
Of coursethat we do not. We cannot escape from the development of civilisation.
Our children are, in a sense, condemned to use mobile devices.
So what can we do?
👉Delay the moment to start using smartphones. Let's consider whether a two-year-old needs to play with a smartphone???? Let's put our child's health above our convenience and offer him or her a different game, such as physical activity.
👉Minimise the time a child spends with a smartphone. When the moment comes that you consider that the child can already use it (in my opinion not before the school period), set the rules.
The amount of time a child will spend with a mobile device each day should be predetermined by you, agreed with the child so that they feel important. Most importantly, this time should be controlled and enforced by the parents.
👉Teach your child the correct position when using such equipment. The habit of proper alignment of the head, arms and the entire spine will pay off in the future with a lack of incorrect posture and pain problems.
👉Set a good example. Dear parents! Your child watches you and takes an example from you. You are his role model and you show him whether it is worthwhile to take care of his body.
Remember, it is never too late to take action and change our children's lives for the better. It is definitely easier to protect your child from the effects of modern devices than to treat postural defects.
☝️DIGEST
Most of the tips and information in the text above are also applicable to adults. Perhaps parents should also ask themselves whether they really need to spend so much time with a smartphone or tablet in hand. Maybe it's also worth seeing a physiotherapist and taking care of your spine? Knowing mums, I know they will think to themselves at this point that they unfortunately don't have time to take care of themselves. . . Maybe this will convince you that this is an investment in your future and that of your whole family. A child needs healthy, fit and happy parents, not ones who suffer from back pain.
The habit of spending leisure time playing in the park instead of on the couch with a smartphone in hand will stay with your child for a (healthy) lifetime 😉
