Your Child’s Devices Might Be Causing Their Neck Problems
By Movieguide® Contributor
Is your child complaining about neck pain? Screens might be to blame.
According to experts, “tech neck is leading to increased levels of pain, especially among young people,” WSBT reported. “Chiropractors and physical therapists say keeping screens at eye level can be one habit that saves you from nerve issues and trouble moving around.”
READ MORE: HOW TO HELP YOUR KIDS LIMIT THEIR SCREEN TIME
We’re supposed to have a slight curve in our necks, but excessive screen time can damage that.
“But because we spend so much time in that downward looking position, we start to lose that curve over time,” Dr. David Sirovica said. “That kind of detracts our ability to interact with gravity. The gravity is always pushing down on us. If we don’t have that nice curvature to kind of act as a shock absorber to absorb that impact, we’re going to run into issues.”
Too much time spent bent over looking at a device can cause a great deal of pain.
“Disk issues, nerve issues, you know, tingling and numbness going down the arms,” he added. “All of that kind of stuff. Without that curvature, we’re putting increased pressure on those disks. So over time, they wear out a lot faster, a lot sooner.”
“We end up not using those postural muscles a little bit until we’re quite older, until after we’ve learned to walk. So those muscles are late to develop,” he continued.
If you or your child has expereinced any of these issues, Dr. Sirovica recommends several exercises to help.
“It’s really about reversing that position, so a lot of extension stretching, strengthening those postural muscles,” he said. “So that way, the muscles are tight enough to hold that spine more upright, rather than collapsing forward.”
Center for Family Medicine advises that parents encourage activities that will strengthen their child’s upper back, chest and shoulders.
“In children, adequate exercise is key,” the group explained. “If children are interested, participating in organized sports can be a good way to stay active. Encourage children to ride bikes, play outside, or even hula hoop.”
Health recommends these tips for those who have to spend a lot of time on a computer for work:
- Place your screen 20-30 inches away from your eyes (about an arm’s length)
- Use a computer monitor or laptop stand to help elevate your screen to the right level (or stack some books)
- Sit with your head, hips, and spine stacked
- Keep your wrists straight and your elbows bent at about 90-degree angles
- Keep your knees in line with your hips and your feet flat on the floor
READ MORE: SET YOUR CHILD UP FOR SUCCESS WITH THESE SCREEN TIME FACTS
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