Computers, smartphones and tablet devices have become an almost integral part of children's lives, be they for social or educational use. This has left many parents worrying about their children viewing inappropriate material on the internet or becoming the target of bullying or cyber predators. But health professionals have other concerns.
'Like adults who spend many hours in front of a computer, children also run a greater risk of developing physical and muscular problems,' says physiotherapist Jane Gorman, who is concerned that children are developing poor posture habits as a result of slouching. According to Gorman, who has worked with children and adults in Hong Kong and Australia, constant slouching can lead to a curved or hunched back and rounded shoulders, which can affect breathing and digestion.
As a mother of four children, she has seen first-hand the demands placed on young bodies. 'Even as teens and young adults, children who develop computer-related postural problems could suffer from back, neck and shoulder pain,' says Gorman, a musculoskeletal therapy specialist.
In a poll of more than 1,530 users of mobile devices aged 18 and above by the Hong Kong Multisports Association, 95 per cent of respondents had suffered neck or back pain in the previous 12 months. Half of the respondents in the poll, conducted in April and May, had suffered severe pain that had interfered with their work, sleep, mood or ability to concentrate.
Rather than constantly reminding children to sit up straight, Gorman says they should be made aware of the effects of bad posture.
'We need to place more focus on teaching children about taking care of their bodies and to listen to what their bodies are telling them,' says Gorman, a member of the Lift (life information for today) team that conducts school workshops in Hong Kong.
