How Important is Good Posture for Your
Kids?
Your mother would scold you, "Sit up straight!" Your grandmother
learned that good posture was the secret to health and beauty. But
is good posture really important to your kids' health?
"Yes," say experts at National University of Health Sciences
(NUHS) in Lombard.
Today, many children suffer from chronic pain in the hands, neck
and shoulders, as well as repetitive motion injuries such as carpal
tunnel syndrome. Many of these ailments can be prevented and
eliminated with proper attention to posture, correct backpack use
and attention to how and how long children sit at computer
stations.
A recent article in the medical journal "Spine" reveals
an urgent need to increase awareness and reduce risks in the school
environment, such as heavy backpacks, desks and chairs that don't
fit their users, and the absence of physical activity at
recess.
Basic posture care is providing a child with a bed with medium
firmness and chairs with good support as well as teaching them not
to slouch and feeding them a well-balanced diet. In addition,
parents and teachers can employ the following tips:
Proper Backpack
Use
- Make sure your child's backpack weighs no more than 10 percent
of his or her body weight. A heavier backpack will cause your child
to bend forward in an attempt to support the weight on his or her
back, rather than on the shoulders.
- A backpack should never hang more than four inches below the
waistline. A backpack that hangs too low increases the weight on
the shoulders, causing your child to lean forward when
walking.
- Urge your child to wear both shoulder straps. Lugging a
backpack around by one strap can cause a disproportionate shift of
weight to one side, leading to neck and muscle spasms, as well as
low back pain.
- The shoulder straps should be adjustable so the backpack can be
fitted to your child's body. Straps that are too loose can cause
the backpack to dangle uncomfortably and cause spinal misalignment
and pain.
Computer
Ergonomics
- Make sure your child's workstation chair fits him or her
correctly. There should be two inches between the front edge of the
seat and his or her knees. The chair should also have arm supports
so that elbows rest within a 70- to 135- degree angle to the
computer keyboard.
- Your child's knees should be positioned at an approximate 90-
to 120-degree angle. To accomplish this, feet can be placed on a
footrest, box, stool, or similar object.
- Limit your child's time at the computer and make sure he or she
takes periodic breaks during computing time. If your child
complains of pain and strain from sitting at a computer or from
wearing a heavy backpack, see a doctor of chiropractic.
A chiropractic physician can help alleviate your child's pain
and help prevent injury. A doctor of chiropractic can also offer
advice on lifestyle changes to keep your youth fit and healthy. As
experts in the health of the spine, chiropractic physicians can
diagnose weaknesses that may be developing in your child's spine
before they become more serious problems down the road.
Parents wanting more information or wanting to schedule an
appointment for their child, who is experiencing chronic poor
posture or posture-related pain, can call an NUHS Whole Health
Center at 630-629-9664.
