Simple stretching exercises for CHILDREN

Self-care stretching exercises for smart phone addicts and slouchers

Professional consultant／Hsu Chih-Chung, Physical Therapist Li-Kong Ortho Clinic, New Taipei City

Frequently asked question 1 : Smart phone addicts

Not only adults are smart phone addicts. The universality of smart phones and tablet PCs has made children more likely to become addicted to phone and computer games. Due to their young age and elasticity of muscles, when they begin using 3C products they can play for a long time but, as they use for a longer period of time, muscle tolerance will decline; and also long-term poor posture with head down as they play with their phone/tablet affects a child’s physical development and height.

When we sit correctly our waist, shoulders and neck are straight; when we look down we not only stretch the suboccipital muscles in our necks, we also make our beck muscles work continually; when a poor posture is maintained for a long period of time the neck muscles can become tight of slightly torn which irritates the nerves and leads to migraine, and also leads to tightness and discomfort in the trapezius and levator scapulae. Also, when our heads are down our upper back will also sink forwards; quite a few cases have been recorded of young males who injured their neck or waist because they were sat slouched on a sofa, with back bent and only using their bottom to sit.

Suboccipital muscles stretching exercises Sit down on a chair with back straight and upper body still, and then tilt the head forward so it feels like you are squeezing out a double chin and hold for 1-2 seconds; repeat 10-20 times. This stretching exercise will be difficult for beginners and needs practice. When stretching remember to move the neck back horizontally .......Full Article Suboccipital muscles stretching exercises