<Baby bouncers and fractures.
Summary:
I have not found any evidence that specifically links the brand of
baby bouncer that you have used to injuries. However there is evidence
that repeated jarring of bones or jumping can lead to stress
fractures. These stress fractures are often found in athletes involved
in sports that involve running or jumping.
According to Dr. Sheldon Campbell, bouncing or jumping in a spring
loaded system (like a baby bouncer) puts major physical stresses on a
child?s body and can create compressive forces that are up to 50 times
those created by the body in normal use. The lack of back support in
the bouncers gives risk to fractures, sprains and strains.
According to safety guidelines a baby?s jumping time should be limited
to ten to fifteen minutes at a time.
References:
Baby bouncers are often called Jolly Jumpers.
In this newsletter Dr. Sheldon Campbell of Campbell of the Campbell
Chiropractic Health Centre gives his opinion on Jolly Jumpers. ?what
you can?t see is the major physical stresses it causes on the child?s
body while jumping. The spring system that allows the child to bounce
up and down, places high velocity force and stress on the spine.
Research has shown that the compressive forces are up to 50 times more
when bouncing in a spring loaded system than when bouncing or jumping
on your own. Furthermore, jolly jumpers provide little to no back
support for infants; risking fractures, sprains, and strains; paving
the way for weaknesses later in life. Of all infant gear, it is my
personal belief that jolly jumpers pose the most biomechanical stress
to a child?s lumbar spine than any other baby toy or gear. It is my
recommendation to not use them.
Source: Dr. Sheldon Campbell.
http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:20FD5gLkWrsJ:www.campbellchiropractic.ca/newsletters/pdf/2006-04.pdf+%22jolly+jumpers%22+fractures&hl=nl&ct=clnk&cd=1
Baby jumpers
The repetitive bouncing stress can be unhealthy on joints that are not
yet developed to bear weight.
Source: Spinal Hygiene and Safety, Part One. By Claudia Anrig. Dynamic
Chiropractic.
http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:VJYqLy5cRF8J:www.chiroweb.com/archives/16/09/03.html+%22baby+jumpers%22+fractures&hl=nl&ct=clnk&cd=2
Repeated jarring of the bone can cause a stress fracture in the tibia.
Source: Dynomed.com
http://www.dynomed.com/encyclopedia/encyclopedia/knee_and_lower_leg/Fracture_of_Tibia.html
Stress fractures
Lower extremity stress fractures are common injuries most often
associated with participation in sports involving running, jumping, or
repetitive stress.
Source: American Family Physician.
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20031015/1527.html
A stress fracture is a tiny crack in the bone that is not caused by a
blow to the bone. Most stress fractures occur in the lower leg and
foot. A stress fracture develops from continued physical stress on the
bone rather than from a single blow to the bone.
This site has an illustration of a stress fracture.
Source: Health library.
http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx?token=94e729bf-2a24-406f-8083-f1484720ce65&chunkiid=11532
Stress fractures of the lower extremity most commonly involve the
tibia and metatarsal bones. Stress fractures of the fibula, the
navicula, the pelvis, and the femoral neck of the femur are less
common. Although several factors appear to contribute to the
development of stress fractures they generally occur as a result of a
repetitive use injury that exceeds the intrinsic ability of the bone
to repair itself.
Tibial fractures are the most common lower extremity stress fracture,
accounting for approximately one half of all stress fractures in
children and adults. Stress fractures of the tibia are especially
common in sports involving running and jumping. In children, tibial
stress fractures usually occur in the anterior proximal one third of
the bone, whereas in adults, the junction of the middle and distal one
thirds seems to be the most prevalent site.
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3225/is_8_68/ai_108993993/pg_2
KFLA&A Public Health gives a set of guidelines for the use of baby jumpers.
Currently, there are no safety standards for baby jumpers in North
America. Baby jumpers are usually safe if they are installed and used
properly. However, like many other children's products, there are
risks associated with their misuse. Children have been injured in baby
jumpers when they are not used as intended, for example, as a baby
swing or a baby carrier. Babies have also fallen when the clamp is not
fixed securely to the doorway or when the baby jumper strap breaks.
Some babies have fallen out of the baby jumper seat while trying to
stand or when jumping excessively.
A baby?s jumping time should be limited to 10 to 15 minutes at a time.
Source: KFLA&A Public Health.
http://www.healthunit.on.ca/factsheets/dp.cfm?action=Fact_Sheets_Details&ContentID=672
UK Accident & Emergency data 1999.
Nationally there were an estimated 91 cases of accidents involving
hanging bouncers and a further 366 using unspecified bouncers (chair
or hanging).
http://www.hassandlass.org.uk/query/reports/1999.pdf>
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<Hope this helps.> |
