Pediatric Posture epidemic Part 1 of 3

Pediatric Posture epidemic

Part 1 of 3

I have decided to break this blog into 3 separate parts, the first to discuss the issue, the following 2 will be the exercises and rehabilitation for improving your posture.

We have a decline in healthy posture at the speed of technology. Children and adults are showing poorer posture. This posture is the forward head tilt with an increased midback curve called a hyperkyphosis. Most hyperkyphosis posture is postural; however some are structural. When you trunk flexes forward you have poor balance; this imbalance decreases your ability to regulate movement properly. You will have a slower gait and a wider stance causing poor coordination and balance.

50.5% of school-age children have poor posture! Over 50%! We have an epidemic!

Poor posture decreases balance, coordination, self-confidence, and results in a poor cognitive and emotional state. Posture distortion is unfortunately the new normal, and we need to reverse this in the ‘digital age.’

Tech neck posture at a 60-degree angle causes 60 pounds of force to the neck and upper back! Tech neck causes digital dementia

Digital dementia is defined as non-Alzheimers dementia-like symptoms form the overstimulation of devices and poor lifestyle habits.

It causes

1.    Understimulation of the Parietal lobe

2.    Overstimulation of the occipital lobe

3.    Understimulation of the cerebellum

4.    Understimulation of the PMRF

5.    Understimulation of the frontal lobe

I strongly recommend no tech under two and school-age children a maximum of 1 hour per day. Our children are developing their nervous system and spines with technology and are the first generation to have this from birth. Previous generations have developed their posture and nervous system before technology.  We need children to spend at least 2 hours a day physically playing, which activates their vestibular and nervous system.

Increased screen time causes the following

1.    Thinning of the brain cortex

2.    Decreased GPA with increased screen time

3.    Increased in ADHD

4.    Decreases in working memory

5.    Lower quality of life with increased screen time

How do we help these children and adolescents?

•    Spinal alignment, chiropractic adjustments  to stimulate the spine and the nervous system to function optimally

•    Posture rehabilitation

•    Posture habit re-education

Watch for the next blog part 2 by Dr. Joelle Johnson Bsc, D.C.,  from Family First Chiropractic and Wellness, 142 Erickson Drive Red Deer T4R3B3 www.family1stchiro.ca

403-347-3261

What effects does technology have on our brains.

In the days before technology when we would read strictly from books, we had to use our imagination to create pictures in our mind about the characters, the scenery, colors, buildings, etc. We might have even imagined certain sounds like birds chirping or cars crashing. This use of imagination would exercise the right side of our brain. In today’s world of on-demand information and technology, the right side of our brain does not get used as often. This can lead to “right brain deficit” and an imbalance in brain development and/or function.

Right Brain deficit

·  

·        Perception- “Left-side neglect”; this means that they will not see objects or people on their left side or they may have trouble reading words on the left side of a page.

·        Reasoning and problem solving- may not recognize that there is a problem or how to solve a problem.

·        Memory- may not remember information learned or may have trouble learning new information.

·        Social communication- may not be able to understand jokes or nonverbal cues.

·        Organization- may have trouble putting information together logically or may have trouble planning or forgets to respond to calls, texts or e-mails.

·        Insight- may not recognize that they have any problems or, may not realize that their problems cause trouble at home, school, or work.

·        Orientation- may have problems knowing the date, time, or where they are.

Excessive use of technology weakens the frontal lobe. We can have impulsivity, lose attention on tasks, failure to focus and executive function and organizational skills, losing rational and reasoning. The frontal lobe changes in the teens and into the twenties and video games and technology can affect the development of the frontal lobe. The gray matter in the brain shrinks from too much tech and gaming.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/10-reasons-why-handheld-devices-should-be-banned_b_4899218

https://www.littlethings.com/reasons-not-to-give-children-technology/1

Digital Dementia is a term coined by neuroscientist Manfred Spitzer to describe an overuse of digital technology resulting in the breakdown of cognitive abilities.

Tech Neck Not only is our posture being compromised with more time being spent on technological devices but our overall health is suffering as well. Poor posture results in mechanical dysfunction of the spine which not only leads to pain, but also to poor neurological “messaging” from the body to the brain and from the brain to the body.

Tech Buzz: Cocaine, sugar and technology- what do they all have in common?! They will all increase the “feel good” chemical in the brain called dopamine. Several studies show that urges or cravings for gaming will produce changes in the brain similar to those as drug cravings. Therefore, it is easy to get addicted to gaming.

How to reduce the effects of technology in you and your children:

·        Take time to experience nature

·        No tech before 2 and reduced tech before 5 years old

·        Monitor your teens tech time closely

·        Incorporate movement breaks, especially after gaming

·        Advocate free play and creative play (for both children & adults!)

·        Practice good sleep hygiene- turn off all digital in the bedroom and at night

·        Reduce devices at least one hour prior to bed and do not sleep with digital devices in bed or nearby

·        Practice mindfulness

·        Dim the brightness on your digital device and use blue light screen protectors such as install f.lux on your devices

·        Advocate human contact/bonding/communication

·        Employ An “Electronic Fast” & “Screen Free Zones”

·        Practice good posture

·        Get regular chiropractic adjustments for your health!

·        Add an app that looks at you screen time and reduce it by 20% each day to a health amount.

·        Set a timer when on social media for 5-10 min, when the timer goes off stop scrolling, this will reduce the time you are on it and make you aware of the time sucking social media scroll.

Dr. Joelle Johnson is located at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness at 142 Erickson Drive in Red Deer 403-347-3261. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. www.family1stchiro.ca