'Tech Neck' and Your Child

Tech Neck is taking a toll on child posture and the question is: is too much technology taking your body back to the Stone Age? Experts claim "tech neck" is destroying a child's posture at a time when their bodies are still developing and claim their spines are changing for the worse. They warn that if something isn't done, it could have long-term effects on a child's health.

According to Cardinus Risk Management, our bodies, mostly young children, are slipping back into the stone age.

For a society that's come so far in technology, experts warn it is having a negative effect on our bodies. Pace said posture changes that are typically seen in adults at least 30 years old are now showing up in children. They claim constant texting and gaming could be reasons.

Many chiropractors fear this is a dangerous trend. Chidlren are so involved in their smart devices that their posture is changing. And many experts fear the changes to the human spine are becoming increasingly prehistoric. If you look at the evolution of the spine, we are reversing. For every extra inch your child's head leans forward, experts say that is an extra 10 pounds of pressure on their neck and upper back.

"I text them, that's easier," said 14 year-old Ryan, about how he communicates with his friends. When Ryan was measured by his family chiropactor for his posture they found he was 3.5 inches forward which adds almost 30 pounds of pressure on his upper back.

Leaning forward can lead to less oxygen intake, blood pooling, headaches, scoliosis and even a bone spur. Bone spurs are rarely seen in young people, now bone spurs are showing up on children as young as 12, which can be devasting to the development and health of that child.

But there is hope -- experts say it's reversible, especially at a young age. Doctors encourage parents to measure their own child's posture to detect a problem and avoid making them more susceptible to injury. If we do not look to reverse the damage that is happening to your kids, you could possibly have kids with head forward slouch - almost in a permanent position.

Experts say the worst case scenario for tech neck is kids constantly tripping and falling because of weak muscles from a forward head position. As the body rolls in the lung capacity becomes less and the oxygen intake becomes less. What would happen five or ten years from now? He or she is in the work field and they already predisposed to injury.

There's now people entering the work force and coming out of college with pre-existing neck issues because of prolonged periods of time they are spending on their laptop and smart devices.

A major concern is blood pooling: when arteries and blood vessels start to become restricted or constricted the blood starts to pool in certain areas, causing tingling, soreness and discomfort.

Tips to avoid text neck

There are several things parents and young people can incorporate into their day-to-day activities to alleviate the symptoms of text neck and strengthen their posture:

Sit up straight with chest out and shoulders back.

Bring your arms up to eye level so you don't have to look down to see the screen.

If you must look down, tuck your chin into your neck instead of hanging your head forward.

If you use your mobile device for extensive typing, consider investing in an external keyboard.

Rest your forearms on a pillow while typing to minimize neck tension.

Avoid using mobile devices in bright sunlight. Straining to see the screen often leads to jutting the chin forward, straining the muscles that support the head.

Strive for a balanced lifestyle

The best way to minimize the risk of Tech Neck related to mobile devices is to limit use of these devices.

Balance is critical. Encourage your child to take regular breaks from mobile devices and get regular physical activity to offset the effects of leaning over a smartphone or tablet.

Another key element is to introduce your child to a regular stretching program:

Hand stretches and squeezing a stress ball can help fingers.

Pull shoulder blades back and down to help alleviate neck and shoulder strain.

Stretch the chest by standing up straight with arms down at your side. Turn forearms until thumbs are pointing at the wall behind you.

Download Text Neck. Yes, there is an app for this. Android users can download "Text Neck" and receive real-time feedback on whether they're standing in the correct posture, indicated by a red or green light. Users can also opt for audible and vibration notifications when their posture starts to slip. Apple users have a number of apps available for posture and movement such as "PostureScreen".

Stay hydrated. The discs in your spine are made up mostly of water, so it is important you stay hydrated during the day to keep them pliable and healthy. Try to aim for eight glasses of water a day.

If you are concerned your child is suffering from a repetitive strain injury like text neck, talk to a health care provider. Your chiropractor is trained to treat RSIs (repetitive strain injury) in all age groups and can provide advice on achieving a balanced health lifestyle for your whole family.