how can home become a pain in the neck?

The home, like the business and the school, is a place where habits are formed - good or bad. It is therefore important to support families in the following areas
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  • making furniture more ergonomic: how to choose a sofa that is truly comfortable, not just designer? How to create a telecommuting station or arrange a desk for the children? How to make sure the whole family is comfortable eating at the same table, when everyone is a different size?
  • putting screens in their place:  The economy is going digital, online and networked games are drawing your child in ever more, and cell phones and tablets have become essential for work and social interactions. So it's not about eliminating technology from our lives, but about learning how to control electronics and how long we use them to protect our health and that of our young children: a screen remains a tool, and should not become a lifestyle.
  • teaching posture to children: in THE POSTURE MANUAL, I explain why "stand up straight", "pull back your shoulders" and "bend your knees to bend down" are toxic advice. The intention is laudable, but the consequences are serious. So we need to learn how to teach good posture, how to protect our own backs (especially when carrying babies), and do exercises with children, every day. ​

WHY SHOULD WE DO POSTURE EXERCISES WITH OUR CHILDREN?

Teaching children to maintain their backs is exactly like teaching them to maintain their teeth: on the one hand, you must not eat too much sugar and on the other hand, you must brush your teeth every day, several times a day. Not eating too much sugar means "behaving well" and using your body well. Brushing your teeth means doing mobilization, stretching, relaxation and even strengthening exercises. 

Here is the first exercise that you can get into the habit of doing several times a day, alone or with your children (week 8 of THE POSTURE MANUAL). 

HOW CAN I HELP?

There are three main ways to help parents protect their children (and themselves) from musculoskeletal pain (MSD):
  • through conferences (e.g., for parents' associations)
  • through individual coaching by video conference
  • through my new project: to develop in each region a network of people trained in the basics of ergonomics and posturology at home, whose mandate will be solely focused on prevention in families (no treatment or competition to occupational therapists). We are in the early stages, and you can be part of the founders of this network: contact me if you are interested.