Children and Posture

Since postural deviation is caused by muscular imbalance, the only solution to your child’s condition is physical activity that retrains and strengthens the joint-muscular structures. Children are encouraged to play and be physically active to retrain their motor milestone phases through games and physical activity that challenges their bodies to redevelop and reintegrate its neural pathways so that muscles and joints regain their strength and stability.

For example, you may get your child to participate in activities that require him to crawl in order to retrain hip structures.

Playing on soft, uneven and different surfaces will also challenge the child’s body to train the necessary sense of proprioception and develop stability for the body.

Crawling, climbing, squatting, running, jumping and hopping during outdoor play on grass and sandy areas are some of the best options to allow the child to experience various stimuli that will train him in balance, strength and agility.

Activities such as swimming (freestyle) weekly will also be great to train the posterior chain muscles that are responsible for keeping our bodies in an upright position.

Many parents invest in supportive devices such as foot arch support and back braces for their children in the hope that it will correct or even cure their child’s postural deviation.

The reality is these devices will not work on your child’s condition without exercise. The rule of thumb for muscles in the human body is “use it or lose it”.