Posture
Posture is the ability of the body to control its position in space, overcoming the action of external forces (gravity, support reactions, resistance and inertia). This applies to both static (sitting in one position) and dynamic (balancing) posture.
Common postural defects: lumbar lordosis, thoracic kyphosis and stooping. Such postural defects can be combined with scoliosis.
The position of children is a topic of increasing interest to parents. Good posture is very important for preschoolers as well as younger students and teens. It is no news to anyone that the correct position of the spine is formed since childhood, especially during the so-called rapid growth phases: at 6-7 years and also at 11-12 years.
Since most modern children lead a sedentary lifestyle (studying at school, playing on the computer and watching TV), there is a lack of active physical movements and this implies – a violation of posture.
A wrong posture can be of several types:
– Flat back – physiological curves are not pronounced enough, a flat chest and shoulder blades protruding in different directions. The elasticity and depreciation properties of the spine are insufficient, it is prone to various curvatures;
– Rounded back – is formed due to increased physiological kyphosis of the thoracic region, to balance it in the lumbar and cervical regions, a pronounced compensatory lordosis is also formed. Due to excessive deflections, the spine is excessively mobile. Lateral curvature is not characteristic of this type of posture;
– Bent back – kyphosis of the thoracic region predominates, against the background of other slight deviations. A scoliotic posture is characteristic: one shoulder (scapula) is higher than the other. A bent back is a pathology that occurs at any age.
Physical exercise therapy is an indispensable measure for preventing spinal curvature and correcting posture in children. Posture exercises perform several important tasks simultaneously to bring the spine into a physiologically correct position. Parents should pay attention to the fact that, in addition to training, other changes must be made in the rhythm of the child’s life. The development of a set of exercises for a small patient is best entrusted to a specialist. All sports activities with the child should be performed in the correct technique, so as not to damage the spine. Postural disorders are various curvatures of the spine. Postural disorders include kyphosis or excessive lordosis, scoliosis, and slouching. Bad posture can seriously harm the body.
In children, the main causes of bad posture are:
– Decrease in motor activity;
– Dietary disorders;
– Violations caused by the disorganization of the work space;
Hypodynamia (impaired motor activity) of the child leads to a gradual weakening of the muscular system of the spine and the whole body. Weak muscles are not able to maintain the correct orientation of the body in space, which leads to a violation of posture.
Eating disorders. If a child receives an unbalanced diet and an insufficient amount of minerals and organic substances are provided with food, this can adversely affect the child’s musculoskeletal system. Most often, children receive with food a lack of calcium salts, which are responsible for the development of ligaments and bones. With a lack of minerals, the ligament apparatus develops poorly, which can lead to a violation of posture.
The disorganization of the child’s workspace can be associated with improper study conditions, for which the child spends a long period of time. The reason for the violation of the posture can be due to the incorrect height of the desk and the chair, behind which the student does his homework, poor lighting of the work surface, lack of work space. At the same time, the incorrect posture is fixed over time, leading to an imbalance of the paravertebral muscles.
The most common cause of poor posture is considered to be carrying a heavy load in one hand (for example, a bag full of groceries). In this case, damage to the intervertebral discs occurs, which ultimately leads to the asymmetry of the pelvic and shoulder girdle. To prevent this problem, children are advised to carry a schoolbag, and adults – a backpack. In a hopeless situation, when you have to carry the weight in one hand, you need to periodically change the part that has the greatest load.
It is important to start training from childhood. A sedentary lifestyle associated with a long process of learning and passion for computer games leads to the curvature of the spine. Incorrect posture caused by problems with the spine will also negatively affect the healthy development of internal organs. Regular exercise therapy for children is a chance to avoid the development of serious diseases or to correct existing health problems.
In certain periods of children’s lives (6-7, 13-15 years), the accelerated growth of bone mass begins, the internal organs increase intensively in size. If by this time their muscle tissue is “not ready”, then the spine is left without “support”. It is vulnerable to the development of pathological changes, to the formation of irregular bends. With such disorders in children, the interval during breathing decreases, malfunctions of the digestive tract, heart and blood vessels begin. The development of myopia is observed.
To avoid such dangerous consequences, the child must regularly develop muscle mass. Starting from the age of 5-6, children aimed to prevent problems with the spine. If the pathological changes have already begun, exercise therapy for children with altered posture will come to the rescue, and the earlier the classes start, the easier it will be to correct your posture.
Despite the fact that exercise therapy is necessary for children, most of them are in no hurry to perform the necessary exercises. In this case, adults should come to their aid. Motivation and proper control are important components of successful lessons.
