Experts: gadget use by children causes spine and neck issues

Excessive use of laptops, mobile phones and tablets by children is leading to long-term neck and back pain, experts in the UAE said.

Health professionals said the increasing use of technology in the classroom was causing “rapid spinal degeneration” in young people. Assignments and homework are often sent and received on the internet, while online textbooks have also become the norm.

Charles Jones, an American chiropractor who has practised in Dubai for 25 years, said people as young as 18 and 19 were being treated for cervical disc problems that are unusual in people under 40.

“From what we can determine, this is due to excessive amounts of time spent on tech devices,” Mr Jones said.

Chronic neck pain caused by the overuse of technology – often referred to as “tech neck” – is a medically acknowledged condition. While using a device such as a phone or a tablet, the neck is typically bent at a 60-degree angle.

At that angle, the neck experiences the same stress as carrying two bowling balls, or about 27 kilograms. Over time, this can result in disc injury in the neck, leading to chronic pain and degenerative conditions.

Mr Jones said critical bone development took place in the body up until the early 20s, and technology was interfering

with this. “We are at a stage where technology and education go hand in hand and finding a happy medium is essential,” he said.

At Nord Anglia International School in Dubai, deputy secondary head Tayyeba Al Qureshi said she recognised the importance of her pupils’ posture. Ms Al Qureshi said parents and teachers had a duty to ensure that pupils avoided unnecessary time on mobile devices, and had to take into account how children sat when they used devices.

“Staff and parents need to know more about posture and using technology for educational purposes,” she said.

“We’re hoping to build different learning environments that consider the spinal health of the children. It is the parents’, student’s and teacher’s responsibility.”

Mr Jones said: “It has to come from somewhere, schools or parents or both. Children are not in school all day. When they’re at home, parents need to keep an eye on them.

“They need to limit time on devices and ensure that the children do not sit in the same position for more than 30 minutes. For every hour of screen time, the child needs 15 minutes of movement time.

“They need to be taught correct stretches to ease tension and strain on their muscles and bones. They need to be taught correct postures while using their devices.

“Schools need to invest in proper furniture that can enable correct posture.” Jared Rodgers, head of information technology at the American Community School in Abu Dhabi, said: “ACS Abu Dhabi is making inroads on this topic.

“We have a variety of seating options to meet the comfort and preferences of the individual learner. Stand-up desks, exercise balls, wobble cushions and comfortable couches allow for flexibility and choice with regards to seating in the classroom.” A survey conducted by YouGov and Omnibus last year found that the average UAE resident spent six hours a day glued to their phone.

More than 1,000 people responded to a poll asking questions about their phone habits, with 87 per cent saying they would struggle to live without their mobile for 24 hours.

“Of course technology is important,” said Marisa Gallaccio, a teacher at the American School of Dubai. “But it is also as important to teach children not only the correct posture but to offer them furniture in school that can help them.”

Here is what you can do to ease the pain of tech neck: make sure all screens are brought up to eye level and that children sit up straight; take breaks to change position; consider a standing desk; if using a laptop, get an external keyboard and mouse and sit at a table where your hands can be parallel to the keyboard; alternate between a standing and sitting desk; and stretch: at your desk, in the car, at home and before and after exercise.