Latest / Morning Medical with Dr. Chow / School Avoidance, Sit-to-Stand Insights, and Fitness Trends

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School Avoidance, Sit-to-Stand Insights, and Fitness Trends · Morning Medical with Dr. Chow

• 0:00
  Good morning, listeners, and welcome to another episode of Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow.
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  I'm your host, Dr.
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  Chi-Ming Chow, here to bring you the latest updates on medical and health news from around
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  the world, all with the help of artificial intelligence.
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  Today, we're diving into a topic that's on the minds of many parents as the school year
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  approaches: what to do when your child does not want to go back to school.
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  It's an issue that's becoming increasingly common, according to Jayne Demsky, founder and
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  chief executive officer of the School Avoidance Alliance.
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  This organization, based in Mahwah, New Jersey, helps families and schools navigate the
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  challenges of school avoidance.
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  Demsky has noticed a rise in parents joining her online support groups, and it's clear this
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  is a growing concern for many families.
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  Summer often means more screen time for kids, with apps designed to be addictive, delivering
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  constant dopamine hits through likes or video game points.
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  This makes the transition back to structured school days, which lack this kind of immediate
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  gratification, pretty jolting for young people.
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  Schools may not be fully supporting students' well-being, with complaints from parents about
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  their children being too sedentary or spending insufficient time outdoors and at play.
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  Kids who avoid school are often highly intelligent, Demsky says, and they're aware
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  that the current school environment might not be ideal.
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  So, what can you do if your child does not want to return to school?
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  One step is to manage their screen time at home.
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  Gradually reduce time spent on digital devices before school starts, and provide alternative
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  fun activities.
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  Encourage a reasonable bedtime and keep phones out of the bedroom to help them get a good
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  night's sleep.
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  Building strong connections with school friends and staff is crucial.
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  Engagement with peers and teachers acts as a protective factor, keeping kids in school.
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  If your child seems disconnected, consider asking their teacher and school counselor to
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  meet with them individually.
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  Encouraging participation in extracurricular activities and unstructured playtime with
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  friends can also help.
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  When it comes to waking your child for school, avoid yelling or playing loud music.
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  Instead, acknowledge their feelings of anxiety and reassure them of their ability to handle
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  these emotions.
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  If school officials start sending warnings about absences, work with them to find
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  solutions without adding stress to your child.
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  Finally, if your child is avoiding school, seek support from mental health professionals to
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  explore underlying issues such as anxiety or depression.
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  If a learning difference is suspected, request an evaluation from the school.
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  Also, advocate for changes that might improve your child's school experience, such as reduced
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  screen time during school hours.
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  The key takeaway here is to listen to your child's concerns, take them seriously, and
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  support them as best as you can.
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  Sometimes, old-school methods like using pencils, paper, and encouraging play might just
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  be what we need to help kids feel more comfortable returning to school.
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  Now, moving on to a fascinating study that suggests we might not need to spend hours at
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  the gym to gauge our longevity.
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  Instead, a simple 30-second test could be one of the best indicators of healthy aging,
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  especially for adults over 60.
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  The test in question is the sit-to-stand exercise, which measures how many times you can
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  rise from a chair in 30 seconds.
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  According to experts, this test is an excellent indicator of lower-body strength, which is
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  closely linked with mobility, functional fitness, and, ultimately, longevity.
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  Interestingly, online interest in this test has surged, with searches for "sit to stand
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  exercise" increasing by 287 percent over the last three months.
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  This growing curiosity highlights a shift in how people are approaching fitness and aging,
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  prioritizing functional movements that mimic everyday activities.
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  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths
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  & Injuries program emphasizes the importance of this test to assess leg strength and endurance.
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  Below-average scores could indicate an increased risk of falls, a significant concern
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  as we age.
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  Bruno Pontes, a certified personal trainer at Muscle Booster in California, explains that the
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  sit-to-stand test is not only a good measure of fitness but also simulates the everyday
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  movement of getting up and down from a chair, unlike traditional gym equipment that isolates
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  muscle groups.
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  Performing the test is simple.
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  You just need a sturdy chair placed against a wall to prevent it from moving.
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  Sit upright with your feet flat on the floor and arms crossed over your chest.
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  Then, rise to a full standing position and sit back down as many times as possible in 30
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  seconds.
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  If you have balance problems or recent surgeries, it's wise to consult a healthcare
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  professional before trying this at home.
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  The benchmarks for a good score vary by age and gender.
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  For example, men aged 60 to 64 should aim for 14 or more stands, while women should aim for
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  12.
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  As we age, these numbers decrease slightly, reflecting natural changes in muscle mass and
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  strength.
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  If you're not hitting these numbers, do not worry.
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  The goal is to make everyday movements easier, and there are various exercises like squats,
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  lunges, and calf raises that can help improve your sit-to-stand performance over time.
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  Lower-body strength is crucial for maintaining independence, supporting movements like
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  climbing stairs, carrying groceries, and walking confidently.
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  Keeping strong legs and hips can significantly reduce the risk of falls and injuries, allowing
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  us to live more active and fulfilling lives as we age.
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  That's all for today's episode of Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow.
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  Remember, whether it's managing your child's school anxiety or testing your own longevity,
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  every step towards better health counts.
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  Thank you for tuning in, and I look forward to sharing more medical insights with you
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  tomorrow.
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  Stay healthy and take care!