****Digital Gadgets Damaging Children Spines****
Children as young as 10 have spinal deformities
caused by prolonged use of handheld devices, according to an Auckland
chiropractor.
Margaret Bryce is deeply concerned by the increase
in the number of people coming to her with straightening of the neck curve, or
cervical kyphosis.
"When I was first in practice I only ever saw
straightened out necks in people who were academics or who had head-down type
jobs like seamstresses or office workers. Now, over the years, I've seen this
intense shift to straightened out necks in younger and younger people."
The cervical vertebrae in the neck should have a
smooth curve which arches forward, she said.
The curve, which is developed among infants during
"tummy time" when they are placed on their stomachs and naturally
practise lifting their heads, provides flexibility, shock absorption and
strength for the spine.
Straightening out this curve could interfere with
the 17 trillion messages that passed through the spinal column every minute, Dr
Bryce said.
She put the change down to the prevalence of
handheld electronic devices such as cellphones and gaming machines.
"It used to be that head-down time was only
during school time. Now, it seems to be all the time," she said.
"I think it's quite a problem, because what
that means to your health is you start interfering with those 17 trillion
messages."
Dr Bryce had treated a 10-year-old who came to her
because she was unable throw a ball in a straight line.
X-rays revealed the child's neck vertebrae were
straightened.
"When trying to send messages from the brain
to the arms and vice-versa, that co-ordination isn't there. She can't throw
straight, she just can't make herself," Dr Bryce said.
Pain from the condition was rarely a problem for
younger people but it could become an issue in later life.
Dr Bryce said parents should encourage their
children to take regular breaks from electronic devices.
"They need to stop, they need to go outside
and get their heads looking up rather than looking down.
"If people think their child's head is
forward and the shoulders are rounded, more likely than not it's a problem in
the neck curve," she said.
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