Posture Problems in Kids

Slumping and slouching are posture habits that do more than irk parents--these positions place excessive stress on a child's spine which can lead to chronic back pain. Dr. Francis Smith, a radiologist and sports medicine practitioner at Aberdeen Scotland's Woodland Hospital, conducted a posture study of 154 10-year-olds which found 9 percent of the group had damaged spinal discs. Temple University's Dr. Kristine Fortuna notes good posture also has a strong psychological component, as children under emotional stress tend to physically reflect their moods by slouching and hanging their heads. Monitoring your child's posture and fostering feelings of self-worth can help correct poor posture habits long before health problems set in.

Proper Posture

• According to Anthony Galante, D.C. of the Algonquin Chiropractic Center, a child should stand with her back straight, shoulders level and positioned toward her back, and head held high. She should never hunch her back or thrust her shoulders forward whether she's standing or seated. Dr. Kenny S. Chan of Vancouver's Shaughnessy Chiropractic indicates a child working with a computer should sit in an appropriately sized chair that supports her spine's lumbar region and allows her to set her feet firmly on the floor, and she should be able to view the monitor without having to tilt her head.

Causes of Chronic Posture Problems

• Overloaded backpacks put undue stress on children's backs, making it extremely difficult for children to maintain a proper posture. Children's Hospital Boston reports children compensate for the excessive weight by leaning forward and tilting their necks upward, a posture that can cause chronic back pain, and one they may begin to unconsciously assume when they're not burdened. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons indicates carry a load weighing more than 20 percent of his body weight subjects a child to serious spinal problems. Dr. Richard Arrandt, D.C., notes slouching on a bed or couch while playing video games or watching television forces a child's shoulders forward, triggering headaches and back pain.

Consequences of Poor Posture

• Children's Hospital Boston warns children who carry heavy backpacks risk spondylosis, a spinal stress fracture, along with apophysitis, a condition where cartilage becomes inflamed, usually in the child's heel. The unnatural neck tilt that accompanies wearing a heavy backpack can eventually lead to nerve damage. Dr. Fortuna indicates poor posture can also cause abnormal bone growth, which becomes increasingly difficult to correct as growth progresses.

Promoting Healthy Posture

• In a 2009 CBS report, medical news reporter Dr. Mallika Marshall suggests reducing your child's risk of obesity by fostering good nutrition and ensuring she exercises frequently. Extra body weight puts additional stress on back muscles, contributing to posture problems, and exercise will keep her body limber. In a report on the consequences of poor posture in children, "Mail Online" recommends monitoring the way your child wears her backpack, checking to see that she wears both straps securely over her shoulders and that her pack's weight is evenly distributed. When your child is watching television or playing video games, enforce a break every 20 minutes for standing and stretching, ensuring that her spine remains limber.