Kids warned on spinal problems

AN astonishing 68 percent of Hong Kong children, preschool to primary school level, suffer from spinal problems.
This finding is based on checkups on 1,392 children by the Children Chiropractic Foundation (兒童脊科基金). The cause: long periods on mobile phones, tablet use, heavy schoolbags and sitting in improper postures.
The foundation has been promoting spinal health for the past three years by holding talks for parents at Kids First Chiropractic Centre (挺直脊科中心) and in schools. More than 192 preschools, kindergartens and primary schools have taken part in the programme.
The foundation offers free chiropractic check-ups to students starting at the age of three. Nowadays, student health services under the Department of Health (衛生署) offer children such examinations only after they reach the age of 10.
“Children can begin to suffer from rounded back or scoliosis at the age of three,” said Jacky Chan Yatsang (陳鎰生), honorary adviser of the foundation.
A doctor at the foundation, Ng Chung-hang (伍仲恒), said: “Students these days are prone to rounded back problems due to prolonged use of phones. At a young age children can easily improve their spinal health by maintaining a ‘dynamic posture’, which includes changing postures and doing spinal health exercises from time to time.”
The Children Chiropractic Foundation celebrated World Spine Day (世界脊椎日) in Lok Fu Place with spine health information exhibitions, booth games and performances.

(This article is published on Junior Standard on 04 December 2017)

Children Chiropractic Foundation
https://goo.gl/A8ML7k

World Spine Day
https://goo.gl/Gnz7bg