Health & Fitness
BLOG: Poor Posture & The Texting Generation
Texting causes a condition called Forward Head Posture, which can dramatically impact your overall health.
The average teen sends 3,339 texts per month, or 6 texts per waking hour. Texting puts the head 4.5 inches in front of the shoulders. This leads to an epidemic of health problems for children due to a condition called Forward Head Posture or FHP.
The research is clear, and shows that FHP leads to spinal pain, headaches, mood problems, and decreased lung capacity among other problems. Older men and women with hyperkyphotic posture or “hunch back” posture have higher mortality rates than those with upright posture.
With children, it all began in the early '90s when schools started eliminating lockers and required children to carry their lockers in their backpacks. A few years after that, handheld video games came along. Next, cell phones for kids with affordable family plans. But, not just for phone calls… they used them for texting. Some teens send more than 10,000 texts a month, with the average teen sending close to 3,500 a month.
Find out what's happening in Apple Valley-Rosemountfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
All of these physical stressors (texting, computers, heavy back packs, video games etc.) are literally molding their bodies into an abnormal posture profile.
Every state requires a school scoliosis exam. 4.2% of those children require further testing (X-rays). It appears nobody is educating parents and schools about the 30% of children in that same group that are experiencing Forward Head Posture and its effects. The additional mechanical loads from FHP lead to breakdown of the spine, discs, muscles etc.
Find out what's happening in Apple Valley-Rosemountfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
During the month of June our clinic is offer a FREE ‘state-of-the-art’ posture evaluation for those interested. You’ll get a complete print out and overview of exactly what your posture looks like and how it may be affecting your health. Don’t hesitate to call or email with any questions.
Dr. Brandon Mannie B.S., D.C.
Natural Health Solutions
14698 Galaxie Ave.
Apple Valley, MN 55124
(952) 891-2225
References:
1. Postural development in school children: a cross sectional study. Chiropr Osteopat. 2007: 15:1 (ISSN: 1340-1746)
2. Spine, 2005
3. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2004
4. Archives of Internal Medicine, 2007
5. Prevalence and risk factors of poor posture in school children. J Sch Health. 2007; 77(3):131-7
