Thriving children are raised in an environment where they are provided with essential health needs. They are properly nourished, get adequate rest at night, are encouraged to get regular exercise, have a positive mental outlook, and they are taught the importance of postural hygiene from a young age.
Unfortunately the school system is failing to provide your child with one of the most important aspects of their health. Traditional classrooms are literally failing your child’s posture.
Your child’s posture is the structural framework of their body, how they carry themselves in public. Proper posture is one of the most important aspects of development for school aged children. And yet, despite the research demonstrating health consequences of poor posture, the traditional school system is setting up your child for failure.
Consider these two important research studies demonstrating the need for postural hygiene programs in schools, and the need to have a better postural environment within the learning atmosphere.
Posture Disorders in School Aged Children
The authors of this research study demonstrated that more than 50% of school-aged children in rural schools have postural distortion patterns. They concluded that the cause of postural disorders were due to many different reasons including lesions of bone and muscle systems, insufficiency of CNS functioning, inappropriate environment, and lack of physical activity. It was also noted that postural distortion patterns were most commonly seen in the upper trunk, shoulder muscles, and neck musculature.
This research study shows a need for proper postural hygiene training of school aged children to manage and prevent postural distortion patterns. The implementation of postural hygiene programs in schools is a beneficial public health initiative.
• Radzevičienė, L & Kazlauskas, A. (2016) Posture Disorders and their Causes in Rural School Pupils. Social Welfare Interdisciplinary Approach, 6(1) p. 118-125.
The Need for Postural Training Programs in Physical Education Classes
In this research study school aged children participated in a physical education course of doing posture exercises two times per week. The exercises can easily be replicated in other schools.
The researchers found that after the implementation of postural correction exercises in physical education classes, children demonstrated better posture post intervention. It was indicated that the implementation of posture exercises in more schools is an intelligent and effective strategy for preventing early onset postural distortion patterns. Implementing this into schools can help children develop proper postural hygiene habits early in life.
• Ruivo, R. et al. (2016) The effects of training and detraining after an 8 month resistance and stretching training program on forward head and protracted shoulder postures in adolescents: Randomised controlled study. Manual Therapy, 21 p. 76-82.
Proper posture is of utmost importance to health and human function, especially during the years of development. Teaching your children proper postural habits from a young age will help instill within them important lifestyle habits for the prevention of pain, being sedentary, and the onset of chronic diseases.
Recognize that the traditional school system is failing to provide an environment that promotes good posture, and know the importance of working with your child from a young age to develop Postural Fitness and health conscious postural habits that they will carry with them for a lifetime. If you are concerned about the posture habits of your child, or yourself, please contact us today to help get back on track.