Posted on 8th Jul 2011 @ 3:03 PM

As parents, you do all you can to help protect your children from pain. You keep harmful objects and substances out of their reach, buy them bike helmets and skateboard knee pads, and teach them how to stay safe. But were you aware that one of the most passive activities in your home can actually be hurting your child?

Some parents do go a little overboard.

Believe it or not, doctors are seeing an increased incidence of injuries in kids caused by… using a computer!

This young man is in desperate need of an ergonomic chair.

Incredibly, kids are starting to suffer from the same aches and pains that adults experience from excessive computer usage at work. These conditions include lower back pain, repetitive stress injuries, and even carpal tunnel syndrome. And when you combine an increase in computer prevalence, the implementation of computers in elementary schools, and a decrease in physical activity, you have a recipe for a rising trend regarding these types of injuries.

So what can you do about it?

Well, that's one solution….

First, you can apply some of the same ergonomic principles you follow in the workplace to your kids' computer workstations. This means lowering the top of the monitor to below eye level, ensuring that there is sufficient lighting in the room, and moving the mouse pad closer to the keyboard. Since the ideal sitting position involves placing both feet on a flat surface, put a footrest under the desk for shorter kids. Also, consider placing a lumbar pillow (or even a rolled-up towel) on the back of the chair so there is adequate support for your child's lower back. If the household's computer workstation is shared by all family members, make sure that it is modifiable to fit the needs of whomever is using it. (Or purchase an ergonomic chair for your child.)

In addition, parents should try to monitor and limit the amount of uninterrupted time that kids spend on the computer. It is important for children to take breaks from the repetitive movements associated with computer usage. Tell them to play outside, complete chores, or even watch TV before resuming their computer activities. You might even encourage them to practice hand, wrist, shoulder, or back stretches or exercises in order to keep those muscles strong and limber.

Making these adjustments will help your kids not only maintain their current health, but also develop smart computer work habits that will assist them as they grow into adulthood. While you teach your kids the basics about how to operate computers, be sure to also educate them about the proper ways to modify computer workstations for their comfort and convenience. The last thing any child needs is having to deal with an aching back, tingling fingers, or a sore wrist from too much time on the computer.