From the Herald Sun http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/kids-are-hi-tech-wrecks/story-fn7x8me2-1226256672000

CHILDREN as young as eight are suffering adult injuries such as RSI and neck pains from using hand-held electronic devices, chiropractors say.

Children using “tech toys” such as iPhones, iPads and hand-held games are complaining of repetitive strain injuries of the thumbs, wrist and elbows, stiff necks, headaches and sore shoulders.

They are injuries usually associated with adults working with computers.

Chiropractors association spokesman Dr Kerein Earney said children were risking permanent damage because of excessive game play.

Dr Earney said she saw an eight-year-old with an opposite neck curve from playing hand-held games.

She also saw a 15-year-old boy who spent the whole school holidays watching TV and playing computer games in his room and began experiencing muscle aches and migraines.

“When children play these games, or use these tech toys, they are often slouched in a chair, head down and they’re putting a lot of pressure on their head,” Dr Earney said.

“They’re like that for quite significant periods of time.

“It’s only going to get worse unless they do something about it.

“It will end up being costly and will lead to long-term health problems.”

We all know walking is great for your spine. Chiropractors have always encouraged movement. It now appears thanks to research published in the British Medical Journal, that walking faster is even better.

Read more http://www.theage.com.au/national/health/walk-faster-and-live-longer-20120118-1q65h.html

Dr’s Mark and Shaun Beovich and staff from Bayswater Chiropractic Centre wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.

Top Ten Travel Tips from the Chiropractors’ Association of Australia:
1. Take regular stretch breaks at least every one to two hours.
2. When sitting, use back support, such as a small, rolled towel. Alternate behind the back and then
between the shoulders.
3. Put your seat upright and ensure your tailbone is as far back into the seat as it can be, with shoulders
and head supported as much as possible by the seat.
4. When flying, avoid the window seat, sit on the aisle where possible. It will be easier to regularly
stretch and walk during the flight.
5. Be careful lifting and carrying luggage. Bend with your knees, not your back. Retrieving baggage off
the carousel can be particularly risky, often involving rapid twisting.
6. When sleeping in a strange bed, sleep on your back or side as much as possible; avoid sleeping on
your stomach.
7. Compensate for dips in the mattress by placing a small, soft towel under your side.
8. If the bed is ‘saggy’, consider putting the mattress on the floor.
9. Use a ceiling fan instead of air-conditioning, where possible, to avoid cold blasts of air on your neck
or back.
10. Do the Straighten Up Australia exercise program once a day, while brushing your teeth.

With the surge of smartphone and tablet users has come an increased incidence of ailments from ‘text neck’ to ‘text thumb injury’ .

Chiropractors are seeing problems come from leaning over tiny screens for hours and using phones that are too small with even smaller keys.

The weight of an average human head is like a bowling ball between 4.5 to 5.5 kilograms. In an ideal posture, where a vertical line can be drawn from your ear through your shoulder, hip, knee and ankle, ‘the weight is carried efficiently.

But if the head is constantly held forward to squint at a screen, the unusual posture makes the head feel up to four times heavier, increasing strain across the whole body.

”Text neck” is in effect the latest manifestation of repetitive strain injury (RSI).

It is treatable but to help prevent it we need to limit or break up the time we use such devices.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/mobiles/smart-phones-injure-texters-20111204-1odfw.html#ixzz1fbvEKSAA

What’s the best time to exercise? As Chiropractors we suggest that neuro-physiologically the best time is at the end of the day. Built up stresses, tension throughout the day can then be dissipated rather than exercising in the morning and then loading your body and spine up with stresses throughout the day, then sleeping on them as well. Not good for your brain, nervous system or spine.
A simple 30-40 minute walk after work would do it. How about skip dinner and go on a family walk.
Of course if you are limited with time and the morning is the only time you can exercise..do it!
Remember always to progress cautiously into any exercise.

Bit of a bug, so let’s start again. It would be great if your spine was like that. Just uninstall and restart. Unfortunately it’s not. To fix a problem quite often takes time. The body needs time to heal. Weeks, months or years of built up stress and strain takes a toll on your spine and nervous system. Occasionally a miracle occurs but more often than not it’s roller coaster kind of path to recovery. We do get there in the end but it would be handy to have a re-install button!