Parents are often quick to scold their children for slouching.
And for good reason; after all, poor posture can adversely affect their overall health.
Ensuring proper posture in your child is important as poor posture can lead to a number of health consequences.
Poor posture can cause:
- Abnormal pressure on joint surfaces, which can lead to bone and joint diseases like arthritis.
- Misalignment of the musculoskeletal system (postural deviation), neck/back muscle spasms and pain, overuse injuries, and nerve compression.
- Problems with digestion and restricted respiration (which can lead to breathing difficulties).
On the other hand, good posture can:
- Align bones and joints, allowing muscles to function optimally.
- Reduce abnormal wear and tear of joint surfaces, as well as excessive stress on ligaments.
This can also reduce back, neck and shoulder pain.
- Maintain optimal circulation, digestion, and respiration.
Here are some tips on cultivating good posture habits in children:
Furniture should ideally accommodate the size and height of your child.
When children sit with their bottoms positioned at the back of the chair, their feet should be able to touch the floor, and the backrest should provide sufficient support to the lower back and shoulder blades.
If their feet are too short to reach the ground, then place a box of the appropriate height beneath the table for their feet to rest on comfortably.
Backpacks should fit the child properly, with the heavier items positioned close to the child’s back.
Try to keep the backpack as light as possible.
Ensure your child is physically active throughout the day (e.g. taking part in sports, walks in the park, playing outside, etc).
Swimming in particular, has been shown to strengthen the body’s core muscles, leading to good posture.
Prolonged sitting should be limited.
If necessary, encourage using different positions (e.g. standing, lying on their tummy, etc) during these activities.
When doing activities that require a lot of sitting time (e.g. homework, watching television, etc), encourage the child to take breaks by walking, moving or stretching.
Some parents might consider sending their child to a chiropractor if they complain of aches and pains related to poor posture.
In Malaysia, chiropractic is considered a form of traditional and complementary medicine (TCM).
Some studies claim that it can be used as a complementary treatment for certain conditions.
However, there is limited evidence available.
Consult your family doctor first to assess if chiropractic treatment is right for your child.
Posture can influence the health and development of your child.
Therefore, instilling good habits early can help reinforce good posture in your children, and help them stand and walk proudly and confidently.
Dr Ferdhany Muhamad Effendi is an orthopaedic surgeon. This article is courtesy of the Malaysian Paediatric Association’s Positive Parenting programme in collaboration with expert partners. For further information, please email starhealth@thestar.com.my. The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only, and it should not be construed as personal medical advice. Information published in this article is not intended to replace, supplant or augment a consultation with a health professional regarding the reader’s own medical care. The Star does not give any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to the content appearing in this column. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.
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