Is Your Child’s Backpack Empty — But Their Spine Taking the Load?
With kids spending more time on screens than ever, Dr. Jason Fennema explains how technology can affect posture, spinal health, sleep, and physical development.
Like many of you, I remember when “Back To School” meant back to the books. You would organize your giant trapper keeper and stuff as many text books as possible into your backpack; it was obnoxiously heavy! Like kids today, you would smile and take your first day of school pictures before lugging your weighed down backpack to what is hopefully a great school year. Some things never change, but then again, many things do.
I recently sent my three children off to their first day of school, smiles and backpacks in tow. But instead of heavy bags, their backpacks were shockingly empty; filled with a lunch, some gym shoes, and one simple ChromeBook. As we are all painfully aware, technology has replaced almost everything in schools. What most of us don’t fully understand is what impact this is having on our children's health, posture, and future.
The concept of screen-time has been discussed, debated, and researched for decades at this point, and we are all aware of the challenges it presents in parenting. What is only more recently being established is the devastating consequences screen-time can have on your child’s spine, nervous system, and physical health. When I first started practicing Chiropractic twenty years ago, it was far less common to encounter a young patient with “Forward Head Posture” or a “Reversed Cervical Lordosis (curve)” as it is today. At this point when a teenager comes into my office, postural distortion is virtually expected.
Some screen-time is needed and essential in today’s world; to thrive in our society you simply can’t get by without it. Screen-time among teenagers has increased by about 2 hours since 2015, with the average now at approximately 8 hours and 39 minutes per day! It is imperative therefore, that you understand what impact it is having on the health, growth and development of your child’s body and nervous system. Your posture, and your child’s posture, is a gateway to optimal health and performance. Postural imbalance excites the nervous system, disrupts sleep and energy, creates mechanical and movement changes, and leads to altered physiology and disease states.
The first step you can take to improve your child’s posture is simply awareness. Start noticing what body position your child is using to look at his/her devices and for what length of time. Ask your child if he or she understands what good posture is and why it is relevant to their health; education and awareness will always be the first step to improving something. As such, have you ever considered knowing and understanding more about your posture and your spine? Or your child’s posture and their spine? It is the foundation and center of your body and your health. The concept of posture is not new, but how you address it may be new to you, and that’s ok! We are here to serve!
Advance Performance Pain & Wellness Center
Dr. Jason Fennema
1222 N. Eola Rd - Aurora
Ph: 630-499-8804