Support from the Healthcare and Bioscience iNet has given a boost to the launch of a new childcare product designed to assist child development, provide comfort and improve posture in infants and children. The innovative wedge cushion PosturePadJunior™ has been designed by chartered physiotherapist and enterprising mother-of-three and Lorna Taylor.

Derby-based Lorna has worked with the iNet over several months to get advice, funding and general support for her product ideas. The PosturePad™ is manufactured entirely within the UK and the Baby version has been on display at this week’s Baby Show For Trade.

“As a children’s physio, I am concerned at how child development is being adversely affected by current lifestyles. I wish to show parents how to position their babies to allow core strengthening of the back and neck,” says Lorna. “Babies should be encouraged to play on their tummies everyday with appropriate support. It is also essential that good back health habits start early in school-aged children. The wedge-shape cushion is a simple means of naturally supporting the spine for comfort and physical development.”

First Published in SEN Magazine (Special Educational Needs) on 22 July 2011

School staff, particularly those working in SEN, are at an increased risk of suffering back problems. Lorna Taylor looks at how to avoid work-related back pain

It is recognised that teaching is a mentally demanding profession. However, less well understood are the demands the role places on one’s body. In any day, when working at low heights with children, there is repetitive bending, twisting, stooping over and awkward lifting. Many teachers will be familiar with sitting on children’s chairs, bending over low tables, washing up in low sinks, and lifting and moving play and therapy equipment and often children.

The very nature of the teacher’s job puts him/her in a continuous at risk situation of developing work-related back pain. Damaging postures primarily affect the lower back with compensatory neck pain. Tense neck muscles also contribute to voice strain.

Evidence

I recently carried out a survey of over 700 primary and early year education professionals (including those working in SEN) which found that 88 per cent experienced back pain and 80 per cent neck and shoulder pain. Alarmingly, 82 per cent experienced pain more than once a week and 74 per cent had received treatment to ease it, either through the NHS, self-financed or both.
Yet, despite these findings, discomfort is frequently accepted as an inevitable part of the job and often not reported. Such under-reporting masks a very serious problem affecting an incredibly valuable and important part of the education workforce. Awareness needs to be raised if this is to be addressed.

First published in Your Voice in April 2010

Have you experienced back, neck, shoulder, hip or knee discomfort? The chances are that if you work with young children you will have!

Are you familiar with sitting on children’s plastic chairs, stooping over and working at low tables, kneeling to assist children at the computer? If so, you are putting yourself at risk of developing a work-related musculoskeletal injury.

Today, there is a strong focus on employee health and well-being, with regulations to protect employees. However, in education, workplace injuries are commonly accepted ‘as part of the job’. Is this acceptable? Should employees working at low heights with children be put at risk of long-term injuries?