Too Much Screen Time! The Pokemon Syndrome!

Twenty-four hours in a day – and the average Canadian and American adult is spending nearly half of it glued to a screen, whether a computer, tablet, smartphone, television, etc., according to a recent Nielson Company audience report. This is even before Pokemon GO.

Findings suggest American adults spend 10 hours and 39 minutes daily on tablets, smartphones, personal computers, multimedia devices, video games, radios, DVDs, DVRs and TVs. Of note, that’s a one-hour increase in average screen time from last year, according to Nielson, and unfortunately, we’ll likely see continued increases in the years to come.

In case you think all that screen time is accounted for by work-related endeavors, here are some other alarming statistics from the latest report:

• The average U.S. adult spends approximately 4.5 hours a day watching shows / movies.
• Adults spend an estimated 1.7 hours a day consuming media on their smartphones.

Now with the invention of Pokemon GO, and other smartphone games such as the first person shooter game father.io, people are constantly holding up their cellphones in the same position for long periods of time. This is what I am calling the Pokemon Syndrome. Holding the arm or arms upright and the head down and forward for extended periods of time. This will affect and strain the whole arm, hand, fingers, shoulder and neck muscles, if not everything!

So, what’s all this screen time doing for our health? Let’s not even concern ourselves with the potential dangers of staring at a screen all day and focus on the lost time we could be sacrificing by turning to our phones / TVs / computers at all hours of the day and night; time that could be better spent on exercise, communication with friends, family and loved ones, or simply relaxing. If you think watching TV or staring at your phone for hours on end is a healthy form of relaxation, you’ll be surprised to learn that in general, it’s actually the opposite effect due to the constant overload of information / noise / etc. Plus the increased exposure of putting yourself into dangerous situations such those who walk across highways, train tracks, traffic,into zoo cages and private property, as well as not paying attention to obstacles causing trips and falls. With the first person shooter game, you are actually running with the cell phone in both hands. Hope you are wearing elbow and knee pads, and maybe even a helmet! Wear good, comfortable shoes. Pack some food  that you can eat with one hand and a water/juice bottle. Some searches go for eight hours or longer. Pack a flashlight, as you might find yourself in  a dark park or alley and the phone dies. Be in a group with friends that you know, and stick together. Some girls have been lured away and attacked. Be safe and have fun!

The bottom line: It’s time to tune out our devices more, rest and tune into healthier ways to spend our time.

For more information on health and safety please visit www.toyourhealth.com and the Ontario Chiropractic Association web site atwww.chiropractic.on.ca or call 1877-327-2273. Dr. George I. Traitses of Infinite Health practices traditional chiropractic, advanced nutrition and anti aging therapy and has been serving the Toronto and Markham communities since 1981. You can reach him at 416-499-5656 orwww.infinite-health.com