Kids & Poor Computer Posture

For parents: Here are a few recommendations you can help your children set up their computers to avoid the risk of life-long poor posture, cumulative trauma disorders or repetitive strain injuries. You should be concerned not only what your children are viewing on the Internet, but also how they are sitting while in front of their computers.

The following advice is similar to that which I would give to an adult, simply adapted for a smaller body.

• Monitor should be located directly in front of the body with the eyes directed at the upper 1/3 of the screen. For a child, raise the chair so their eyes are at the correct level.
• Feet should reach the floor. If they don’t, a stool should be placed under the feet so that knees are bent at approximately 100 degrees.
• Elbows should be at 90 to 100 degrees without bending wrists to rest on the keyboard. An adjustable keyboard tray, which can be lowered and angled for each individual user, is a good investment. Keep the elbows close to the body, without having to reach for the mouse and/or keyboard.
• A good chair should support the back with knees resting two inches from the front edge. Place a pillow, or lumbar back support, behind the child’s back for support and to move them forwards so their knees hang free
• Head and shoulders should be relaxed and neutral. Watch for their heads jutting forward.
• Watch the time! Breaks should be taken every 20 to 30 minutes.

Most children, and adults, are now working longer times on the desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones. It is so important to train our bodies to have better postures as early as possible.

Parents should have their children’s posture assessed once a year by their chiropractors to facilitate proper spinal health in their growing spine.