Posture
Not many people think about posture when they are considering reasons for their child's difficulties. Posture is one of the most important aspects of a child's development. Our posture provides a stable base of support for most activities we do every day.
What causes posture deficits?
- Low tone
- Decreased core strength
- Generalized weakness
- Scoliosis
- Inefficient vestibular system
Posture deficits may result in…..
- Difficulty moving in and out of various positions with ease
- Difficulty sitting on the floor or in a chair
- Limited trunk rotation/mobility
- Difficulty manipulating small objects
- Difficulty feeding themselves with utensils
- Difficulty using two hands during play
- Difficulty with coordination activities such as running, galloping, skipping, riding a bike
- Decreased breath support for speech production
- Deficits with feeding and/or oral motor control
- Decreased body awareness
Treatment
Adequate posture results from a balance between the extensor and flexor muscles of the core musculature. Prolonged postural deficits can affect a child's development in many ways. Posture deficits can eventually lead to orthopedic deficits due to compensatory strategies used by children to maintain an upright posture.
Following are some general suggestions to enhance your child's core strength:
- While lying on his/her back, have your child kick their legs up in the air
- Wall kicks - have your child lie on their back with their head up against the wall, have them bring their legs up to the wall and touch it
- Sit-ups with knees bent, have your child pull-to-sit
- Planks
- Push-ups - either on the knees or their toes
- Sit on an unsupported surface without back support (bench, small ball, chair)
- Play in tall kneel
- Crawling - on all fours, reaching for objects, throwing objects
Community-based activities to enhance core strength/posture:
- Swimming
- Gymnastics
- Karate
- Cheerleading
- Track/Cross Country
