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Feeling Fit: “Gameboy” Back – Protecting your Child from the Newest Culprit in Spinal Ailments
By Aly Wagonseller
Anyone that has worked sitting at a computer for years on end knows the havoc it can create on our posture, back and neck alignment. Unfortunately, doctors worldwide are discovering that children as young as eight years old are presenting with adult-like spinal issues not seen since the lack of child labor laws allowed kids to work in factories. Herniated discs, curvature of the spine and an inability to touch their toes is becoming more common, resulting in a generation of children plagued with chronic back problems before they reach the legal age to vote.
Discovering the reason behind this phenomenon is as simple as sneaking a peek at your youngster while playing video games or texting their friends on their smartphones. “Spending hours hunched over gaming devices, tablets and phones is causing a curvature of the spine in many children,” says Dr. Andrew Cash, a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon at Desert Institute of Spine Care. “Increasing numbers of children are developing serious spinal problems such as slipped discs and damaged posture that, in some cases, leads to back pain earlier in life,” he adds. The condition has been nicknamed “Gameboy Back” with a nod to just one of the many offending devices our children use on a daily basis.
What to Do?
Of course limiting the amount of time your child is hunched over tech gadgets would be dreamy, and is a definite possibility for younger children. Yet, as many parents of a tween or teen know, this may not be possible considering the hierarchy these devices play in our child’s daily school, work and social play routines. A more practical solution may be to introduce and practice healthy spine and stretching strategies the entire family can benefit from. Dr. Lovaas from The Joint…The Chiropractic Place in Las Vegas suggests these tips to help maintain a healthy spine now and in the future.
- If your kids are going to play video games, encourage games and game consoles which require movement, like the Nintendo Wii and Xbox Kinect. Games that require movement are better than games that require nothing more than sitting on a couch.
- If you don’t want to rush out and replace your gaming console, consider an inflatable exercise ball. Replace the comfy chair or couch with the ball – this then requires children to engage their core muscles, even when playing video games.
- Micro-breaks from gaming, texting, and computer use are essential for adults and children alike. These breaks allow you to get up and exercise the muscles opposite to the ones you use while sitting. Stand up from that video game, reach your hands above your head and lean back for short stretches. A 30 second stretch every 30 minutes will make a significant difference.
Technology is certainly here to stay, and will only become more important in the future lives of our children. By starting young and starting NOW with techniques to prevent the damaging effects of “Gameboy Back,” we can live comfortably in techie harmony for many years to come.
