An Invercargill headache and migraine specialist is calling for greater awareness of the impact of electronic device use on children.

The Headache Clinic founder Helen Tufui says poor posture while using devices such as smartphones, tablets and laptops is a contributing factor in about 40 per cent of the cases she sees, but worryingly, that figure rises to 60 per cent among under-16s.
Tufui has been moved to speak out about what she describes as a growing "epidemic" of device-related headache and migraine issues among young people, as the proportion of children seen at her three nationwide clinics has doubled during the past three years, now forming 40 per cent of the total caseload.
However, Tufui was cautious about laying blame for the surge in problems at any one door, saying there were several reasons for the change.
"Children at school can be found lying on beanbags or the floor, or sitting on high stools or low chairs - as the traditional desk and chair of earlier generations is no more. The use of technology at school and home is increasing, and the amount of time children spend bent over devices is increasing in parallel, with absorbing media like games or video meaning they can spend several hours in the same position without even realising."
That had led to an increase in several posture-related musculoskeletal conditions, including those within hitherto rarely seen groups like the under-9s, she said.
"Whether it's slouching on the couch staring into a phone, or half-lying on 10 pillows in bed watching movies on a laptop, the constant strain these positions are putting on the structures in our neck and spine should be of concern to us all.
"Unfortunately, this is not just an issue for adults, with the number of children presenting to our clinics with headaches, migraine or abdominal migraine continuing to rise."

Tufui cited the case of a 10-year-old whose family were desperate to find a solution to her seemingly intractable stomach issues.
"She'd been on every diet under the sun, and still was suffering from terrible reflux, for which surgery had been discussed. What many don't realise is that migraine in younger children can present as abdominal migraine, with a range of symptoms similar to various food intolerances and other, more sinister, pathologies.
​Tufui said she and her team were able to identify postural issues as the culprit, and quickly improved the girl's well-being with a combination of simple exercises and gentle techniques based upon the work of headache pioneer Dean Watson.
For those perhaps despairing of fixing their longstanding postural headache or migraine issues, the message was a positive one, Tufui said.
"It's never too late. We have clients in their 90s who've worked to change their posture and experienced amazing results."
Tufui said she had been holding a series of sessions with Southland schools in an effort to educate teachers, parents and students on appropriate posture, with good outcomes.
"You find the adults are often simply not aware of the issues, but usually the children are very receptive to new ideas, and quickly build good practice."
Staying posture-aware was the key, she said.
"Our bodies are clever, and find ways to slouch.
"But once people have stuck at the recommended exercises for a week or two, they find it a lot easier to maintain."
The Headache Clinic's three simple steps to improving posture while using electronic devices:
1. When sitting using any device put a "super arch" in your lower back by tilting your pelvis forward. This will neutralise the head position on the spine and decrease the strain through your neck.

2. Sit at a table or desk  when using a tablet or laptop, or lie on your stomach on the floor using your muscles to hold your head in line with your spine.

3. Don't lie on your back with pillows under your head as this position significantly increases the strain through your neck by pushing it into a flexed position. Lying on your side with a small pillow will help keep your neck in neutral and is the best option for relaxing.