SAVE YOUR KIDS SPINE...!!

Did you know that your child’s sitting posture can cause many problems in future life..? 
Ms. Sherifa Sulaiman, Physiotherapist at KIMS Bahrain Medical Center, highlights the importance of sitting posture to save your Kids Spine. Growing body will grow according to what position they are in. If they are bent over while the body is growing, it can cause problems for the rest of their life. It is necessary to take care of posture from childhood. 

“Children are suffering back problems due to poor posture and their lazy lifestyle” she added. A good example is ‘If a baby tree is not supported by a yard stick it will grow at an angle. As the tree gets more branches they will also grow at different angle instead of growing straight. The same can be said for bad posture, if the spine is not corrected or kept straight it will start to arch in the wrong direction causing the body to overcompensate’.

“Nowadays, even though the child is getting adequate information about the importance of exercises, they usually neglect those activities and spend up to four-five hours a day playing games on hand held devices, games consoles and computers, which affects badly the sitting posture of a child”. This affects not only appearance but may cause various illness also.
According Ms. Sherifa the main Causes for Epidemic of poor posture is:

1.    Poor classroom Seatings.

2.    Lugging heavy school bags.

3.    Hours spent watching TV and playing video games.

4.    Hand-held devices, smart phone, play station and more recently Tablets.

Researchers found degenerative changes in the spine earlier much they ever would have suspected. The studies revise our thoughts on when we should begin preventive back care.

Proactive steps should begin early in life, even before puberty. Period between 5 – 8 years old is very important time of muscle development and spine bones grow, at the time when child goes to school. 

Preventive Measures

• It’s important to give proper instruction to the child to learn to keep his posture straight and not to hunch. Advice them hunching slouching and creeping in will affect their health.
• Limit the time in front of the television, computer and with video games.
• Always remember to get up and walk around for some time often while sitting hours. Physical activity always helps to strengthen muscular system and to improve immunity.
• Orthopedic mattress as correct posture of spine is important also during sleep.
• Always be careful about your child’s Backpacks. Its weight should always less than 10 percent of your child's body weight.
• Always make sure that your Child's desk at home is in the right height, which means at belly level and a  straight-back chair keep tablet devices propped on a surface at approximately a 60 to 70 degree angle during prolonged.

Ms. Sherifa Sulaiman [BPT], is a Physiotherapist at KIMS Bahrain Medical Center.

To book your appointment call 17822123 or 17740485.