During your childhood, did you ever hear your friends complaining about their neck and back? I expect, like many, your answer is no. Growing up we never used to hear other kids complaining about back pain, but the reality is that back pain is becoming more and more frequent, with it being diagnosed in up to 24% of children and adolescents.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ♥
As Chiropractors, at CostaSpine we have noticed an increase in the number of patients who are still at school! This is worrying given that most children don’t finish their full muscular and skeletal development until their early 20’s.
So Why Should We Worry About Bad Posture?
Chances are you’re reading this article leaning over a table or slouching in a chair. Your head is tilted forward, your shoulders, as well as your upper back, are curved. If you are on your tablet or phone, your arms are likely to be bent, making this position even more stressful on our bodies. People spend hours each day on their phones, tablets, computers and consoles, holding that same damaging position.
Have You Heard the Term ‘TEXT NECK’?
It was coined by the US Chiropractor Dr. Fishman in 2008 while examining a 17-year-old patient who came in complaining of headaches and neck pain. As he was trying to explain to the mother what the problem was, he saw the patient’s posture – the girl was sitting in a chair, hunched over her phone, texting away.
The average human head weighs 10 pounds (4.5kg) in a neutral position – when you are looking forward, you should be able to draw a vertical line between your ears and the tip of your shoulder. For every inch (2.5cm) you tilt your head forward, the pressure on your cervical spine doubles, causing a huge strain on your whole upper body that can pull it out of alignment and cause muscle spasm.
Just think about how many hours a day you carry this extra weight for? According to research, 8 – 18-year-olds spend an average of seven and a half hours using ‘entertainment media’ everyday!
What Can We Do About It?
1. Reduce the daily time at a desk and on devices
This can be tricky as school and homework often require a child to be sat at a desk, therefore we need to look at trying to help with the posture at home.
2. Chiropractic care is a must to treat and prevent spinal, issues
As chiropractors, we can help with finding what specific structures are being affected and damaged then fix them!
3. Be more active!
Increasing activity and encouraging extracurricular sports will help the body to become stronger, meaning these issues are less likely to occur in the first place. e
Diana Narvaez is a Chiropractor specialising in children and is available for consultation and treatments at CostaSpine.
CostaSpine
Oficina 13, Centro Commercial 2, Guadalmina Alta 2, San Pedro de Alcántara, Marbella.
Tel/WhatsApp: (+34) 722 878 614. Instagram: costaspine_marbella, info@costaspine.com
www.costaspine.com
WORDS DIANA NARVAEZ. PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF COSTASPINE