Be Smart With Your Smartphone and Look Up!
As students worldwide return to school, it’s likely many will be e-learning in some capacity for hours each day on their digital devices. While our devices can be fantastic tools for entertainment and education, the postural effects are something all parents should be aware of. For many students, e-learning may increase neck, mid-back, and low back pain.
How Digital Devices Can Affect Your Health
Spending 6 or more hours each day looking down at your digital devices can profoundly affect your mental, social, and physical health. It can also lead to the development of “Tech Neck Syndrome.” This forward head posture often places tremendous stress on the neck (cervical spine) and can lead to an uptick in headaches, back and neck pain, and more.
- Low back pain is the 3rd most common form of pain interfering with schoolwork
- It's estimated that 50.3% of school-aged children present with posture disorders
- In fact, approximately 6% of children experience back pain from prolonged sitting
Making it a habit to look up (literally!) throughout the day is a significant first step in reducing the effects of “Tech Neck.” Try this: Pull your chin back, stretch your arms out in front of you, open them wide, then look up toward the ceiling and hold for 20–30 seconds. Repeat this stretch every 60 minutes to help reset your posture and body position. If your child spends much of the day learning on a computer, teach them this stretch and encourage other healthy routines for school-age children that promote movement, posture, and regular activity throughout the day. You can also schedule a visit with our practice for a comprehensive postural and movement-based assessment to identify potential issues and help reduce their risk of developing Tech Neck Syndrome.
Why Chiropractic Care is Critical for Kids Who Play Sports
Youth sports are a big deal. It’s estimated that over 45 million kids are actively engaged in sports! While sports give kids a fantastic opportunity to grow socially and physically, they also increase risks for injuries, pain from overuse, and muscular imbalances. Finding proactive ways to reduce the risk of injury and balance the effects of training are essential for your child’s developing musculoskeletal system.
Ensure Proper Musculoskeletal Development
Your child’s skeletal system is actively developing until they are approximately 25 years old. Their postural habits, history of injuries, and genetics play a role in their body’s final form (and function). Sports have the potential to add a significant amount of stress and increase the chances of injuries for your developing child. Even small injuries to their spine can create bigger challenges down the road as they get older.
- Addressing minor injuries and challenges while your child is young can help ensure proper musculoskeletal development
- Youth sports can increase your child's likelihood of developing overuse, growth plate injuries, and chronic pain
- Chiropractic care is a safe and natural way to help your child stay active and perform their best
Remember, don’t shrug it off if your child complains of back pain, headaches, or a stiff neck. Pain is your body’s way of saying, “Pay Attention Inside Now.” As screen time and digital learning continue to increase, many families are noticing technology-related stress in children that can affect posture, movement, and overall comfort. Our practitioners are experienced at evaluating growing bodies and creating personalized care plans designed to help children stay active, healthy, and engaged in the sports and activities they love.
Power Your Child’s Brain with Movement
Years ago, many believed that the health benefits of exercise were limited to the body. However, research has demonstrated that regular physical activity and movement can benefit both the body and the brain. Recent studies have highlighted that movement can improve the supply of oxygen to the brain and promote the production of new cells. In fact, it appears movement also aids in creating new connections in the brain!
The Benefits of Daily Movement
Many schools have reduced physical education classes. Many more students have moved towards e-learning. For those reasons, it’s important to be mindful of our children’s physical activity and to encourage them to exercise more each day. And not just to benefit their physical health. In many ways, exercising each day is likely to make your child a better student! Movement triggers the release of chemical substances in the brain that enhance brain function.
The research is clear—daily movement and exercise are beneficial for both your child’s body and brain. Our posture and movement assessments are designed to identify abnormal movement patterns and evaluate screen posture and spinal alignment, helping your child move more comfortably, stay active, and perform their best both in and out of the classroom. If your child struggles to get enough exercise because of recurring aches, movement restrictions, or posture concerns, we hope you’ll consider scheduling an appointment with us. Our doors are open, and we’re here to help your family build healthy habits that last.
E-Learning: How to Avoid Tech Neck
Is your child connected to a phone, computer, or tablet during and after school? Think about it. Many of us aren’t more than an arm’s length from our phone at any time (even when we are sleeping). Spending time every day looking down at our devices can place a lot of stress on the supporting muscles of our neck and lead to an uptick in headaches. It’s a condition called “Tech Neck,” and it’s one of the most common causes of headaches and neck pain.
Don't Wait to Get Care
The countless hours per day kids often spend on phones and computers can significantly contribute to tension headaches. In fact, it’s estimated that kids spend up to 1,400 hours per year in the exact positions that are attributed to the development of “Tech Neck.” That’s not surprising. Recent research has also shown that even 15 degrees of forward head tilt can triple the weight of the head on the spine.
- "Tech Neck" is the term used to describe the symptoms of headaches, neck pain, and poor posture attributed to the forward head posture often associated with using your phone, tablet, and computer.
- Taking a break from our mobile devices every 15 minutes can help reduce the likelihood of developing recurring neck pain and headaches.
- Chiropractic care including adjustments and postural exercises can help decrease the pain and reverse the effects of "Tech Neck".
Keep it simple. Encourage your children to take regular movement breaks, stretch often, and develop healthy screen habits throughout the day. These small, consistent habits are some of the easiest ways to help prevent the posture and movement patterns that can contribute to “Tech Neck.” If your child begins experiencing recurring neck pain, headaches, or stiffness after spending long hours online, don’t ignore those signals. Our providers are experienced in evaluating growing bodies and creating personalized care plans that include pediatric nervous system support to encourage healthy movement, posture, and overall development. We’re here to help your family build lifelong habits that support healthy, active kids.
Common questions
The appropriate amount of screen time depends on a child’s age and individual needs. Most experts recommend balancing recreational screen time with regular physical activity, outdoor play, quality sleep, and face-to-face social interaction.
Yes. Spending long periods looking down at phones, tablets, or computers may contribute to poor posture, muscle tension, and movement restrictions over time. Encouraging frequent movement breaks and ergonomic habits can help reduce unnecessary strain.
Regular movement supports healthy muscle development, coordination, balance, cardiovascular health, and overall physical and emotional well-being. It also helps children develop lifelong healthy habits.
Many families choose chiropractic care as part of a proactive wellness approach. Gentle, age-appropriate chiropractic care may help support healthy movement, nervous system function, and overall physical development as children grow.
Parents often consider an evaluation if they notice changes in posture, recurring discomfort, sports-related injuries, movement concerns, or simply want to support their child’s overall health and development. Recommendations are always based on each child’s individual needs.
Help Your Child Build Healthy Habits for Life
Raising healthy, active children in today's digital world isn't about eliminating technology—it's about creating balance. Encouraging movement, limiting unnecessary screen time, supporting healthy posture, and developing consistent daily habits can make a meaningful difference in your child's overall well-being.
At Sound Corrections Chiropractic, we're passionate about helping children and families build healthy foundations through every stage of growth and development. If you have questions about your child's posture, movement, or overall wellness, we're here to help.
Ready to take the next step? Get Started with Care and discover how we can support your family's health.
Get Started With Care
