Bad posture in children may lead to back, shoulder and neck pain with the additional risk of this chronic pain following them into adulthood. Slouching, especially while sitting at a desk, can also lead to repetitive motion injuries like carpel tunnel syndrome. It may also foster an overall feeling of fatigue. If your pediatrician rules out more serious causes of bad posture like scoliosis or kyphosis, specific lifestyle changes may make a significant difference.
The Science
Your back's three natural curves--cervical, thoracic and lumbar--rely on proper posture to maintain these curves. Good posture remains crucial from childhood into adulthood, because the proper alignment allows your spine to do what it was designed to do. When the three curves aren't supported properly, muscles and ligaments must do the work the spine should be doing. This, in turn, puts stress on those over-taxed body parts.
Causes
An incorrect backpack may lead to poor posture and back pain. The weight and type of backpack your children use may contribute to the problem. Backpacks should not weigh more than 10 percent of your child's body weight and should not hang below your child's waist. Additionally, your child needs to use both straps. Failure to follow these guidelines puts too much stress on the back, shoulders or neck.
Evaluation
A pediatrician is best able to evaluate the extent of your child's posture problems, and to determine if the bad posture might be a more serious condition. To do an informal home evaluation, ask your child to stand with her back against a wall. Specifically, her buttocks, shoulders and back should rest against the wall's surface, with heels about two inches from the wall. Put your own hand in the space between the wall and her lower back, or ask her to reach behind and put her hand in that space. If she has proper standing posture, the hand should just fit in that space. A smaller amount of space indicates that she needs to work on arching her back; a greater amount shows a need to flatten the arch by tightening abdominal muscles.
Prevention
Demonstrating proper standing and seating positions, encouraging your child to exercise, as well as providing them with medium-firm mattresses and ergonomically correct work stations are key to eliminating common posture problems. Doing the wall test daily as described above will help your child learn to maintain correct standing posture. Make sure his backpack isn't too heavy, and that the adjustable straps keep the backpack from riding too low, or too much to one side. Position chairs and desks so that your child's knees are two inches below the underside of the desk. Proper elbow and foot support also contributes to correct seated posture.
Member Comments