How to prevent back problems in children

Since school years, we know very well how important it is to monitor our posture in order to avoid dangerous problems with the spine, which will surely follow if we sit or walk with a stoop. But isn't it too late to start taking care of this when the child spends a significant part of his time at his desk, and then sits at the table, busy preparing his lessons? It may be much easier to avoid bad posture and prevent other dangerous problems with the spine if you take care of it as early as possible. We invite you, together with estet-portal.com, to understand the problem and find ways out of such a difficult situation, which is known firsthand to many modern parents.

What does curvature of the spine look like

First of all, let's get to know the problems that, with a high degree of probability, a baby may have when he has to spend a long time in a sitting position. It's no secret that school, homework, cartoons and computer games just "glue" the child to the chair!

Specialists distinguish between several types of curvature of the spine:

• with scoliosis we are faced with a lateral curvature, which is formed due to an incorrect position at the table — the child sits leaning to one side;
• In kyphosis, we can observe a stooped back and drooping, rounded shoulders. Such a curvature occurs if the child bends low while sitting at home;
• with hyperlordosis there is an arched back and a protruding abdomen.

Fortunately, very often we can prevent all these problems from occurring!

We can form a strong skeleton

Orthopedists are sure that it is necessary to start taking care of the formation of the skeleton, and in particular, the baby's spine, even before the birth of the child. It is the period of intrauterine development that determines the health of your baby, including the strength of his bones and the maturity of muscle tissue. However, you should not think that you need any special diet, medication or exercise. Most likely, in anticipation of the baby, you studied the mountains of special literature, and therefore you know very well that:

• Your diet should be balanced. Of course, calcium is required for strong bones. However, in order for the body to absorb it, other vitamins and minerals are also needed.
• You must follow your gynecologist's instructions and take all the necessary vitamins. However, do not prescribe them yourself, remember that even the best of the vitamin complexes must be taken only in accordance with the doctor's prescription.
• Moderate physical activity is incredibly important for the development of an unborn baby. Gymnastics and outdoor walks activate blood circulation, prevent congestion in the pelvic area, which is very important for the development of the baby.

During pregnancy, you should not completely ignore being under the bright summer or spring sun: vitamin D, which your baby needs to prevent rickets, is synthesized under the influence of ultraviolet rays.

Caring for the spine from the first days

The spine of a newborn is very delicate and vulnerable, it does not yet have physiological curves. They will form later, when the baby will actively move, learn to sit, crawl, and then walk.

In the meantime, the baby sleeps most of the time and grows very quickly. This means that parents need to:

• to equip a comfortable bed, with a perfectly flat, fairly hard mattress. But the baby does not need a pillow, a folded diaper will be enough;
• put the baby on the barrel and on the tummy;
• hold the baby correctly while feeding;
• change the position of the baby more often, keep him upright (it is especially useful to do this after feeding);
• be sure to do massage and gymnastics.

If the apartment allows, you can teach your baby to swim in a large bathtub — this activity is very useful for the development of the baby.

Benefits of crawling: how to help your baby

However, babies grow very fast. This means that your baby sleeps less and less, but moves more and more every day. During this period, your primary task is to create conditions for the child to master the available ways of movement with minimal injuries — crawling and walking. The process of crawling contributes to the development of the muscles of the legs, back and shoulder girdle. If your baby is over eight months old and can't crawl yet, you can help him with this. Put the baby on his tummy and try to attract his attention with a bright toy. At the moment when the child begins to reach for her, create an emphasis for his foot. Having pushed off, he will be able to move and take his first "step". However, many babies successfully skip this stage. They invent their own, exclusive method of moving,

It's time to sit down: is it necessary to rush the baby

Isn't it a familiar picture: talking on a walk (or on a forum) with other parents, you find out that one of your baby's peers can do more than you, and you are terribly upset!

However, skills are different. Is your little one not able to sit up on their own yet? Perhaps the whole point is that the muscles of his back and spine are not strong enough, which means it is too early for him to sit down. Pediatricians believe that the baby is completely ready for a sitting position when he learns to take it on his own.

Usually, a child learns to sit down by holding on to a support: the side of the stroller or the bars of the crib. Therefore, your task is to create conditions for the development of such a skill by the baby. In addition, the exercise when the baby rises, holding on to your fingers helps.

Mom's helpers: benefit or harm

Currently, domestic and foreign industry produces many devices designed to alleviate the fate of a young mother:

Manege — is vital when a mother has to manage a baby without helpers. In addition, holding on to the side, the baby will learn to stand up on his own and even walk, which can only be welcomed.
Various armchair with tables — incredibly useful items, because they are really comfortable for the baby to sit in, and for you — feed him. However, it should be remembered that too long sitting is extremely harmful for your baby's fragile spine.
Walkers, which, as a rule, love to give relatives or colleagues — the subject of an endless dispute among pediatricians. Many experts are of the opinion that the baby, being in a walker, is still sitting, which means that the load on the fragile spine remains very high. Try not to allow your child to stay in a walker for a long time.

Maximum Movement: Build Preschooler Muscles

A preschool child, as a rule, has the opportunity to move as much as he wants (unless, of course, his parents do not prohibit him from physical activity). Movement is vital for the development of the skeleton, muscle tissue and ligaments for the baby. The development of a "muscle corset" helps to properly distribute the load on the spine, which means it will help protect it from deformation. The task of parents at this stage is not to interfere with the motor activity of the baby, gradually accustom to physical education, swimming.

Early learning to swim, which is popular these days, is not only a tribute to fashion, it is of great importance for the harmonious development of the child, both physical and emotional.

Well, if the grown-up baby continues to visit the pool, this will serve as an excellent prevention of postural disorders.

Let's carefully monitor the student's posture

School enrollment — a serious test for the baby. Limited by the requirements of school discipline, he is forced to spend long hours at the school desk and doing homework. Add here watching TV and computer games — and the picture will become simply menacing! The child practically does not have time to move. At the same time, the body is exposed to far from childish stress. To minimize the risk of certain problems with the spine, parents should make the student's workplace as convenient as possible. Pay attention to how the child sits at the lessons, whether he has a habit of slouching and leaning to the side while doing written assignments. And most importantly, find out why it happens. Perhaps there are problems with vision or the workplace is poorly lit.

It is also of great importance how much time the child spends on lessons. Teach him to keep track of time when doing homework and take small breaks every 40 — 45 minutes.

But that's not all! Often, in an effort to fulfill all the requirements of the teacher, the student loads the backpack to failure with a variety of school supplies. If every day a child takes on an unbearable burden, it's time to take action and, at a minimum, control the contents of the school bag. In addition, it is necessary to explain to the child that wearing a heavy backpack on one shoulder is extremely harmful for his spine.

If you see your child having to carry a heavy bag to school every day, it makes sense to discuss with the teacher the possibility of keeping some of the school supplies at school.

A visit to sports sections becomes a real salvation in a period of lack of physical activity. For elementary school students, it can be any team sports, because the kid is much more interested in moving during the game. In addition, dance and swimming classes will be of great benefit. In this case, it is especially important that the load is distributed symmetrically - on the right and left sides of the body.

Broken posture: if it does happen

Of course, the older a child gets, the more difficult it is to control various areas of his life. However, if you notice that the child's posture is broken, he stoops or his shoulder blades stick out, it makes sense to immediately seek the advice of a specialist. Fortunately, spinal deformities, even in a teenager, in most cases, can be completely corrected. A qualified orthopedist, if necessary, will select a set of exercises for corrective gymnastics, which may have to be supplemented with physiotherapy procedures. For more interesting information on beauty and health, please visit estet-portal.com.