Hello, Chiropractic health is essential for children’s health. It starts with detecting their vertebral subluxation from early childhood through posture analysis (including scoliosis, round back, high/low shoulder, forward head posture, and forward pelvic tilt) and detailed chiropractic examination. We strengthen the maintenance of spinal and nerve health through regular chiropractic adjustment and spinal exercise to enhance the efficacy of the nervous system which will help children live healthily and realize their potential.

 

The COVID-19 pandemic did significant damage to children’s spinal health, largely because they were moving much less. At the same time, schools were closed hence more reliant on electronic devices for Zoom classes and entertainment which unfortunately has led to addiction. We found 31.82% of kids spent more than 3 hours daily within the evaluated group which is 6 times more than the data in 2019 (5.49% in 2019 to 31.82% in 2022*). This combined with poor posture has led to increased occurrence of postural problems and vertebral subluxation, thus causing pain conditions, which include headache, chest pain, shoulder and ankle pain, lower back pain, and numbness.

According to our surveyed record, 66.7% of children suffering from scoliosis in having pain conditions, traceable to spinal disorders. A vertebral subluxation can put physical pressure on the spinal nerves and nervous system, causing various further disorders such as more aching, appetite loss, attention deficit, coordination issues, and respiratory problems.

 

Statistics for 2019 and 2023 all show general increases in various postural problems including scoliosis, round back, high/low shoulder, forward head posture, and forward pelvic tilt. In 2019, around 79% (5373/6807kids) of kids had spinal problems, it was close to 90% (5673/6313kids) in 2023. It indicates that the problems are getting more serious.

 

Our data showed that suspected scoliosis had the biggest rise in occurrence within the evaluated group from 23.95% (1489/6807 kids) in 2019 to 28.31% in 2021(2347/8290 kids). In addition, the number of school children with suspected scoliosis has approximately doubled, from 34.3% in 2022(4340, incomplete data) to 60.8% in 2023(3702/6087 kids).

 

Suspected scoliosis among kindergartners has approximately doubled between 2022 and 2023, and the proportion of 3 to 5-year-olds we surveyed with suspected scoliosis increased from 14% to 55.5  , more than three times. This increasing prevalence of spinal problems in young children is very concerning.

 

Particularly we want to draw your attention to underprivileged children. We have provided detailed chiropractic examinations in 2021 for 13 children living in subdivided units who did not receive chiropractic exams and adjustments before and during the epidemic respectively. The examination found that their round-back problems all showed a worsening trend, and the proportion of people with round-back problems also increased sharply from 50% to 76.9%.% Cramped living conditions of low-income families living in subdivided flats provide limited space to stretch out and exercise, leading to the spinal problems we often deal with. Compared with the general school children, the proportion of children in subdivided units with round-back problems is 9.9% more.

 

We are keen on raising the awareness of spinal health through a series of projects, including the “Straighten Up School Scheme” supported by The Community Chest, serving 436 schools that provide outreach spinal education services so as help kids to build up healthy spine lifestyles.

 

Our regular Students Chiropractic Care Program provides those under 18 with free posture checkups that fill in for the government’s services gap causing the government first-time scoliosis screening for students at Primary 5 or 10 years old and only continue regular screening every two years.

 

Children Complimentary Chiropractic Adjustment Program is geared towards the underprivileged and provides chiropractic detailed exam and adjustment specifically for students living in subdivided flats, from families covered by the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme.

 

Apart from our work, we think the government should have done more. Now the public service is not enough to address the actual needs, we recommend the service provide scoliosis screening earlier at 8 years old, continue regular testing once a year instead of two years, shorten waiting time between X-ray examinations and follow-up appointments and also need to reinforce the public education on children spine health to increase the parents’ awareness on spinal nerves.

 

We suggest the public should pay attention to:

1 Maintain kids' spinal health by taking them to receive regular checkups every six months and chiropractic adjustments if necessary.

2 Perform stretching and strengthening exercises and straighten-up exercises daily.

3 Build up a “Dynamic posture” lifestyle by changing posture or doing 1-2 minutes of exercise every 30-40 minutes daily.

4 Parents should pay more attention to observing kids' postural and health conditions, not  to easily mistake potential scoliosis for just bad posture habits, leaving problems untreated.

 

This morning we would like to dedicate “企好” by “GIN LEE ” to all of you listening.

Enjoy and thank you.