How to Treat Poor Posture in Teens

Many teenagers suffer from poor posture. This can be due to a number of factors, including their daily activities and stress from school, beyond more serious spinal disorders. Poor posture can make your teenager appear to lack confidence and may become a more serious habit over the years. Address the problem head on. There are several things to keep in mind when doing so.

Instructions

• 1

  Discuss the poor posture with your teenager. Perhaps there are factors such as a heavy backpack weighing him down and affecting his posture. If his backpack is too heavy, look into a rolling backpack.

• 2

  Have your teenager practice sitting correctly on a chair. This means sitting with his back and bottom completely against the back of the chair and feet flat on the ground. This is especially important for teenagers who spend a lot of time on their laptop. Remind your teenager not to use his computer in bed or lounging on the couch; the best place to spend time working on a math problem or writing an essay is at a desk.

• 3

  Limit time playing video games. The hunched-over position many people sit in while playing video games can be another factor in poor posture. Physical therapist Don Mills suggests keeping video game sessions to 20 minutes. After 20 minutes is up, teens should get up and stretch their backs.

• 4

  Have your teen practice standing up straight, holding his head up straight with his chin tucked in just a bit. The shoulder blades should be held back, his chest should be forward and his stomach should be tucked in. His weight should be on the balls of the feet.