Poor posture in children, treatment, types, prevention of preschool age and adolescents in Moscow

Postural disorders in children are being diagnosed more and more often today, and medical statistics make it impossible not to think about the seriousness of the problem. After all, various problems with posture are found in 15-17% of preschoolers, 33% of middle school students and 67% of high school students! This is fraught not only with the appearance of aesthetic defects, but also with the appearance of headaches, discomfort in the chest and back, as well as the development of asthenovegetative syndrome. Therefore, such pathologies require the earliest possible diagnosis and treatment, before the deformations become irreversible and cause complications.

Asthenovegetative syndrome is a disorder of the nervous system, accompanied by slowly progressive memory deterioration, decreased attentiveness, fatigue and sleep disturbances.

Causes of postural disorders in children

Poor posture in children refers to various types of back positions that are habitual for a child, different from straight. This leads to deformation of the spine in various planes, including worsening physiological curves in the lumbar and cervicothoracic spine.

Deformities can be congenital or acquired. But if the former are caused by the formation of extra vertebrae or wedge-shaped deformities in the prenatal period and occur only in 5–10% of cases, then the latter make up the vast majority and develop under the influence of negative factors throughout life.

The most common causes of poor posture in children are:

insufficient physical activity;
discrepancy between the desk and chair and the child’s height;
insufficient level of illumination in the area for doing homework;
improper distribution of the load on the back when wearing a bag or backpack on one shoulder;
stooping, etc.

As a result, some muscles spasm, while others, on the contrary, relax excessively. The spine begins to deform, which aggravates the situation.

Children with an asthenic build (narrow shoulders and chest, long and thin arms and legs, weak muscle tissue, thinness) are most susceptible to postural disorders.

Also, various types of diseases can act as factors contributing to the occurrence of postural disorders:

hallux valgus;
spinal fractures;
rickets;
tuberculosis;
polio;
osteomyelitis;
shortening of one of the legs;
visual and hearing impairments (children unconsciously take a forced position in which information is better perceived).

Poor posture in children can also develop during the first years of life due to constant carrying of the baby in one arm, the use of walkers, early disembarkation and other factors.

In mild cases, postural problems in children can be completely corrected. But in advanced situations they lead to:

decreased mobility of the chest and diaphragm, which negatively affects the functioning of the respiratory system and can provoke the development of shortness of breath and other disorders;
a decrease in the shock-absorbing function of the intervertebral discs of the spine and the early development of osteochondrosis, protrusions and hernias;
disorders of the cardiovascular system and the functioning of the central nervous system;
radicular syndrome when the deformed spine and surrounding tissues of the nerves are pinched, which leads to sensory disturbances, limited mobility and pain in the areas of the body innervated by the compressed nerve, etc.

An approximate set of exercises to strengthen the back and abdominal muscles

Exercises to prevent spinal curvature in children can be performed from 4-5 years of age until adolescence.

Starting position: standing, hands on your belt. Spread your elbows, squeezing your shoulder blades together—inhale; return to IP - exhale.
Starting position: standing, legs apart, hands to shoulders. Lean your body forward with your back straight - exhale; return etc. - inhale.
Starting position: standing with a gymnastic stick in your hands. Raise the stick forward up - exhale; return to IP - inhale.
Starting position - standing, stick in lowered hands. Sit down with your arms stretched forward; return to IP The back is straight.
Starting position: standing, stick on shoulder blades. Lean forward with your arms stretched up (take out the stick); return to IP
Starting position - lying on your back on an inclined plane, holding the bar of the gymnastic wall with your hands. Bend your legs, pull them towards your stomach - exhale; straighten - inhale.
Starting position: lying on your back, arms along your body. Bicycle leg movements.
Starting position: lying on your back, arms to the sides. Stretch your arms forward, lift your left leg and touch your arm, then your right leg. Accept i.p.
Starting position: lying on your stomach, arms to the side. Raise your body, bending your thoracic spine (reach towards the ceiling); return to IP
Starting position: lying on your stomach, hands on your belt. Raise your body up and raise your right leg - inhale, return to the i.p. - exhale. Repeat the exercise, raising your left leg straight.
Starting position - lying on your stomach, arms bent at the elbow joints, holding a gymnastic stick on your shoulder blades. Raise your body by bending it through a gymnastic stick; return to IP Breathing is voluntary.

A set of exercises is performed daily in the morning or evening, depending on the child’s peak activity, but not earlier than an hour after a meal or 30-60 minutes before it. The pace is slow, you should start with 5 repetitions, increase to 10, the whole complex takes 30-40 minutes.

In order for the exercises to have a sufficiently accurate effect, they must be performed intensively, that is, above the children’s normal level of ability. First, easier exercises are given with a gradual transition to more difficult ones. Throughout the lesson, pauses are made several times to rest. It is recommended to rest in a lying position:

lying on your back, legs slightly pulled up to your stomach, hands behind your head;
lying on your stomach, your chin resting on your hands.

Types and symptoms of posture disorders in children

Posture disorders can be of different types, which determines further treatment tactics. This:

flat back – smoothing out all natural vertebral curves;
flat-concave back - increased lumbar deflection (lordosis) with a slightly pronounced deflection in the cervicothoracic region;
stoop – an increase in thoracic deflection (kyphosis) with a decrease in lumbar lordosis;
round back – increased thoracic kyphosis with almost complete absence of lumbar lordosis;
round-concave back - an increase in all natural curves of the spine;
scoliosis is a deformation of the spine in the lateral plane, which is manifested by asymmetry of the right and left sides of the body.

Postural disorders can vary in severity. There are 4 degrees, among which the 1st is characterized by minor deviations from the norm, and the 4th is characterized by very pronounced ones. In the latter case, the deformities are corrected only through surgery.

You can suspect problems with posture if the following signs appear:

fatigue, loss of interest in outdoor games;
complaints of pain in the back, neck, shoulders or head;
difficulty staying in one position for a long time;
the occurrence of crunches during movement;
the head is tilted forward, the shoulder blades protrude outward, the buttocks are flattened;
drooping shoulders, sinking chest, decreased muscle tone of the upper half of the body, legs bent at the knees;
tilting the head and shoulders forward, protrusion of the abdomen and pelvis, excessive extension of the knees when walking;
shoulders and shoulder blades are at different levels, the head is often tilted to the side, the pelvis is skewed, etc.

If parents notice at least one of these signs in their child, they should immediately contact a neurologist, orthopedist or vertebrologist. The doctor will conduct a professional examination of the child and, if necessary, prescribe instrumental research methods (X-ray, CT, MRI), which will help to accurately determine the degree of deformation and the cause of changes in the child’s posture.

Gymnastics for scoliosis

Pathological curvature of posture is the most difficult to correct, since the displacement of the vertebrae is accompanied by deformation processes. Therefore, physical therapy is prescribed for a long period of time, almost always performed while wearing a corset and taking special medications. Training is usually based on the following exercises:

Lie on your back and raise your legs up, doing rotations reminiscent of riding a bicycle.
Stand straight, feet shoulder-width apart, hands on your waist. As you exhale, lift your leg up, bending at the knee. Try to pull it towards your stomach as much as possible.
Fix your shoulder blades with a gymnastic stick, grab its ends with your hands and lean forward.

The number of repetitions is determined by the doctor, based on the age and severity of the curvature. There should be no pain or excessive effort during the process, otherwise the situation can greatly aggravate.

Treatment of postural disorders in children

After establishing the exact cause of poor posture in children, treatment tactics are developed, the nature of which largely depends on the diagnosis. If organic disorders in the structure of the spine have not yet arisen, and there is only a bad habit of stooping, treatment consists of eradicating it. In this case, a large role is given to parents who need to constantly monitor the child and, without psychological pressure, draw his attention to the need to keep his back straight, as well as strictly adhere to other doctor’s recommendations.

If the reason lies in the development of diseases, the therapy will be more complex and multifaceted. It will be aimed not only at improving posture, but also at eliminating the causes that led to spinal deformation, which may also require the use of various medications. But, fortunately, in most cases, poor posture in children can be corrected without the help of surgeons. The main thing is to find a good specialist and strictly follow his recommendations.

The main components of treatment are:

exercise therapy;
massotherapy;
manual therapy;
hydrotherapy;
physiotherapy.

If necessary, the child is prescribed to wear an orthopedic corset. It will maintain the spine in the correct position and prevent the worsening of an existing deformity. Thanks to it, parents can slightly loosen control over the position of the child’s back, since the corset will not allow slouching and hunching. An orthopedic corset is selected individually for each child. For minor curvatures, models made of elastic materials with strong Velcro are used, and for more pronounced deformations, rigid orthoses made individually are used.

It is also important to develop and adhere to the correct daily routine for the child and provide him with adequate nutrition. It is necessary to select shoes according to the size of your feet, and not according to your height. It, like the mattress and pillow for sleeping, should be orthopedic. It is important for children to create conditions for full physical activity and sports, as well as to organize the student’s workplace in accordance with his growth.

Exercise therapy

Physical therapy is one of the most accessible and effective ways to correct postural defects in children. The main task of exercise therapy is to strengthen the muscle corset, as a result of which it will provide stronger support for the spine and help keep it in the correct position.

For each child, a complex of therapeutic exercises is developed individually by the doctor. In this case, the type of deformity, the patient’s age, level of physical fitness and existing concomitant diseases are taken into account, which may become a contraindication for performing certain exercises.

It is recommended to conduct classes under the supervision of a specialist. For this purpose, separate groups are formed, by visiting which the child and his parents will learn to correctly perform each proposed exercise so that it brings benefit and not harm. During physical therapy exercises, sudden movements, strong twisting and heavy force loads are not allowed.

For school-age children, good results are achieved by using a rowing machine, an exercise bike, or special gymnastics complexes.

The child must understand that at the slightest discomfort in the back, he must report it to the instructor. If the cause of pain does not lie in the wrong tactics of performing the exercise, you need to consult a doctor for an examination and correction of the exercise therapy program.

The effectiveness of therapeutic exercises directly depends on the regularity and correctness of the exercises. After the child and parents have firmly mastered the methodology of each of them, it is allowed to continue studying at home on their own. It is important to pay attention to physical therapy every day, then a beautiful and stately posture will be developed much faster.

At certain intervals, the child should be shown to the attending physician so that he can evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic exercises.

Massotherapy

Therapeutic massage involves warming up, kneading and rubbing the muscles of the back and shoulder girdle. This helps to improve blood and lymph flow, relax overly toned muscles and tense overly relaxed ones. This leads to faster restoration of the correct anatomy of the spinal column.

Manual therapy

Manual therapy is one of the most effective methods for correcting postural disorders in children. Since children's joints remain highly mobile and the spine flexible, with the help of competent manual pressure it is possible to quickly restore the normal position of the vertebrae, eliminate functional blocks and achieve a lasting improvement in posture.

But since, unlike therapeutic massage, manual therapy involves working directly with the spine, it requires a high level of qualifications from a specialist, which is confirmed by relevant diplomas, certificates and licenses. It is important to approach the choice of a doctor responsibly, since incorrect selection and implementation of manual therapy techniques can worsen the child’s condition and worsen spinal deformities.

An experienced chiropractor knows a lot of different techniques and techniques, including Gritsenko’s original technique, and also certainly knows how to use them with maximum benefit for the patient. Thanks to a course of manual therapy sessions, it is possible not only to restore correct posture, but also:

improving the functioning of all internal organs;
elimination of asthenovegetative syndrome;
improving memory, attention;
increasing overall tone and resistance to infections;
normalization of muscle tone;
restoration of normal mobility.

Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy involves carrying out various water procedures that activate blood circulation and tissue nutrition, and also have antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and regenerative effects. As part of hydrotherapy, general therapeutic baths with the addition of medicinal substances to the water, thalassotherapy, therapeutic showers, water aerobics, etc. can be used.

It has a positive effect on the condition of the spine and is considered the best way to prevent the occurrence of postural disorders. If you already have spinal deformities, it is recommended to visit the pool at least 2-3 times a week. Classes with a trainer will also help your child learn to swim and will additionally bring a lot of fun, which will help you perceive training not as treatment, but as a game.

Rules for conducting classes

After determining the nature of the pathology and the nature of the postural deformation, the physiotherapist prescribes a suitable set of exercises. It is formed taking into account the need for the degree of impact on existing curvatures. They can be carried out in a gym, a specially equipped gym or at home. It is important to make sure that the child is comfortable during the process, that he is wearing comfortable, breathable clothing, that there are no stress factors and that he is feeling normal.

You should also follow these simple rules:

Do not feed your child 2 hours before training.
Take a bottle of clean water with you and give it in small sips as you practice.
During the period of correctional therapy, strictly monitor the diet, balance it with the required amount of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, based on age needs.
Conduct training only in a well-ventilated area with a temperature not exceeding 20C.
During the process, it is important to teach the child to monitor breathing and report if pain or severe discomfort occurs.
All gymnastics performed for therapeutic purposes must be carried out in compliance with strict technology (shoulders straightened, chin raised, back straight).
There should be no jerks, intense actions, or holding your breath during the process. Everything is done carefully and smoothly, the complexity of the training increases gradually.
Late evening training is prohibited.
Training should be systematic, carried out regularly, with equal time intervals between them.

It is strictly prohibited to independently adjust the selected exercises, complicate them, or increase the load without consulting a specialist. This will not only not speed up the appearance of the result, but will also lead to more serious curvatures. The first classes are necessarily carried out together with a physiotherapist; after mastering key techniques, you are allowed to conduct them independently at home.

All exercises are carried out only in a well-ventilated area