stand tall

Filed Under Tips & Tricks | October 29, 2008

june17_bonnc

With the onset of cooler weather, kids spend less time playing outdoors and more time sitting and that’s when Dr. Stephanie Bonn of Bonn Chiropractic sees an increase in pediatric headaches, neck and back pain, so she has some helpful ideas for parents, caregivers and teachers to help kids stand up straight.

As the back to school rush is over we settle into regular routines it’s an ideal time to be aware of our children’s posture. Unfortunately scoliosis screens are no longer performed by trained practitioners at our schools – scoliosis is an abnormal curve of the spine which may develop as the child is growing especially between the ages of 9 to 13 – and if detected early these curves can be minimized with proper care. Here are some easy, practical tests you can do at home to see if your child needs to work on their posture:

  • Have your child stand in front of a mirror and check to see if their shoulders are level. If one is lower than the other, have your child even them out so that they can feel what it is like. Monitor and correct daily for improvement.
  • Check to see if your child’s hips are even by having them lie on their tummy on the bed. If one leg looks a little shorter than the other, their pelvis may be slightly rotated. To help level out hips, make sure they’re sitting properly at their desk with a 90 degree angle at the hip, knee and ankle.
  • Stand your child in front of you so that you can see their bare back. Have them bend at the waist to touch their toes. If one of the shoulder blades sticks out more than the other it’s an indication that there may be a slight abnormal curve in the spine so bring your child in for a check-up.

Help avoid pediatric postural strain with regular exercise which also helps kids focus more effectively in the classroom. Both soccer and swimming are great non-contact sports encouraging symmetrical movement. You can also incorporate activities like walking to and from school and outdoor play before dinner into your daily routine. Add to that a healthy diet and plenty of sleep, and your child’s spine will grow and develop optimally. If your child complains of headaches, neck or back pain or you’d like to have their spine and posture assessed a visit to the chiropractor can help, after all, as the twig is bent so grows the tree…

Dr. Stephanie Bonn is a mother of two and owner of Bonn Chiropractic, a great resource for prenatal chiropractic care: www.bonnchiropractic.com. Further studies and research can be found on the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association’s website www.icpa4kids.org. For previous columns on caring for your body (and your kids’ bodies) click here.

 

Leave a Comment

Let us know what you think or share your great finds with us so we can share them with other Vancouver mothers!