Is Good Posture Really that Important?

Slouching seems to be an early teen malady. So does it really matter if your child stands and sits up straight? "Yes," says Jeffery Bergin, the Dean of Clinics at the National University of Health Sciences. He goes on to explain, "Poor posture can cause bones to grow abnormally." It can also lead to a muscle fatigue, backaches and even repetitive motion injuries like carpel tunnel. Decrease unnecessary wear on ligaments and joints and create a better overall appearance by working on your child's posture.

How to encourage good posture
Maintain good posture yourself. If you don't already, make a point of sitting straight and standing tall. If this is difficult, then you have probably spent too much time slouching. Strengthening your back and core muscles will take time, but it can be done. As you become aware of your posture, it will become easier to keep yourself straight.

Reminders and games
Point out individuals who have excellent posture. People who carry themselves well can be used as an example. Use Young children may enjoy playing a slouching game. Ask them to get in their very best slouching pose. Do it with them, round the back and let the chest and chin sink. Now, imagine a string pulling you up from the center of your head. The pelvis comes forward and the chest and chin lift up. Keep playing this game by imagining yourself as a marionette. Have the strings lift arms and legs up and down while the spine is kept straight and tall.

Common causes of poor posture:
Backpacks that are too heavy or worn improperly, lots of computer and video game usage and slouching while eating. These can all get a child used to not standing up straight.

How to remedy the common posture problems:
Specifically, make sure the backpack weighs no more than ten percent of your child's body-weight. This can be difficult to enforce, but carrying too much weight on a child's back can strain the muscles and cause pain. My daughter requested a rolling backpack to help with this very issue. Tighten the straps and be sure your child uses both straps when carrying their pack.

When using the computer, be sure your child's feet can touch the floor, if they cannot, give them a stool to place their feet. You can also add a pillow or other back support if necessary. Limiting their video game, TV and computer usage is the best way to avoid children getting into a bad habit of using bad posture.

Posture may seem like a superficial issue to tackle, but the physical damage poor posture can cause is enough reason to make it an important topic in your home.


Sources:
Backpack pain and kids

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