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The spine is the support of the whole body. Unfortunately, we often forget about it and do not care for it properly. Most of our back problems begin in childhood. More than 80 percent of children have various posture defects. The most common are curves (scoliosis), round (kyphosis) or concave (lordosis) backs.
Imagine you are at the doctor's and complaining ofback pain . The medic tells you to lie back on the ladder. They tie you to rungs in several places, and then pull the ladder with you upside down high. Suddenly, they drop sharply down. This spine therapy was recommended in the 10th century. Today, 80-90 percent of adults complain ofback pain . Ailments usually appear when we turn forty, but doctors say that the spine is already refusing to obey teenagers. What can we do for him?
So that the spine is flexible and the vertebrae do not collide with each other and crush each other, they are separated by intervertebral discs called discs. They lie between the vertebrae on a thin layer of cartilage. In the middle of each of them there is a so-called nucleus pulposus. Because it is filled with a jelly-like substance, the discs are springy and act as shock absorbers when we walk, run, jump and even dance.
The vertebrae stack on top of each other form a protective tunnel for the spinal cord. This is the most important information highway in our body. The spinal nerves, which branch more and more, create a communication network between the brain and the rest of the body through the intervertebral openings.
Spine - whole body support
It consists of 33 or 34 vertebrae, 7 of them are cervical vertebrae. They are the smallest and most mobile in the entire spine. Thanks to them, you can move your head sideways, up and down, and even make smaller and larger circles with it.
- 12 thoracic vertebrae. 12 pairs of ribs come out of these vertebrae. 10 pairs connect at the front with the breastbone to form the chest. It covers the most important organs and allows the lungs to breathe freely.
- 5 consecutive vertebrae are called lumbar vertebrae. They are the most loaded when we walk, lift weights or sit, which is why we most often feel pain in the lumbar region of the spine.
- 5 fused vertebrae are the sacrum. Process themfusion usually ends between the ages of 20 and 25. The sacrum and the pelvis protect the bladder and organs of the reproductive system.
- 4 or 5 fused vertebrae at the very bottom of our spine is the coccyx. It does not have any special function, but is, according to the proponents of the theory of evolution, a remnant of our tailed and hairy ancestors.
Back problems start in childhood
Our back problems begin as early as in childhood. More than 80 percent of children have various posture defects. Most often they are curved, round or concave back.
When the baby is still in the mother's womb, its spine resembles the letter C. After birth, it straightens. However, the straight line we see when looking at the back is an illusion. If we could look at the spine from the side, we will notice that it has several natural curves and resembles two joined letters S. Although this shape takes on already at the end of the first year of life, it only takes its final form around 18. Thanks to this, posture defects can be easily corrected even in adolescents . But if it's not done in time, adults will experience even very severe back pain.
Distortions of the spine may form in the first months of life. How to prevent them?
- do not restrain your legs when wrapping your baby in nappies,
- do not place it constantly on the same side,
- do not buy too soft a mattress for the crib,
- do not put a high pillow under his head (he should lie, not sit),
- do not carry the baby on the same arm all the time,
- do not make him sit, stand or walk prematurely,
- don't avoid the sun; it causes the formation of vitamin D necessary for the bones in the child's body.
Posture defect detection
Before your child goes to school and sits in a desk for hours, evaluate his or her posture. Ask your child to undress to their panties and to stand with their back to you in a 'on alert' position. Look carefully at his back at the line of the shoulders, shoulder blades and hips, then check that one of the shoulders, shoulder blade, or hip is not lower than the other. Evaluate the symmetry with the child facing you.
Have him / her make a deep bend forward (hands touch the floor), check for a protruding shoulder blade or an uneven waist. When he stands sideways to you, check that the backs are not too round and the belly is sticking out too much. If anything worries you, see an orthopedist. Neglectingposture defectsmay result in wearing an orthopedic corset and sometimes even having an operation. When detected early (in 7-8 yearslife), systematic corrective exercises and changing habits are enough.
Common posture defects
- Scoliosis - lateral curvature. A visible sign of scoliosis is the asymmetrical position of the shoulder blades. This defect is the most common (every 10th child has it), it arises during the fastest growth, i.e. between 6 and 24 months of age, then between 5 and 8 and 11 and 14 years of age. There are many causes of scoliosis: from congenital defects of the spine, poor pelvic structure, unequal length of legs to poor posture.
- Lordosis - is the forward curve of the spine in the lumbar region. The back is concave and the abdomen protrudes. It is the result of rickets, tuberculosis, back muscle paralysis and hip dislocation.
- Kyphosis - excessive backward curvature of the spine in the thoracic region. It is a consequence of rickets or crushing of the vertebrae, e.g. when a child lifts too much weight.
Prevention of posture defects
Posture defects may lead to degenerative changes in the spine, failure of the circulatory and respiratory systems, and poor work of internal organs. Therefore, they should be prevented.
With minor flaws:
- prophylactically enroll your child for corrective gymnastics and make sure they attend it;
- encourage movement. Every day 15-20 minutes of morning gymnastics and a choice of: an hour of classic style swimming, crawl and backstroke, outdoor walking, cycling, skiing (especially cross-country skiing) or gym exercises directed by an orthopedist or physiotherapist;
- do not let the child sit for hours in front of the TV or computer;
- put on the child's shoulders, the so-called a spider while doing homework. The device squeaks when the child slumps;
- take care of a proper diet. It must contain a lot of calcium and vitamin D. The daily menu must include: milk, cottage cheese, butter, yoghurt, fish, eggs, vegetables and fruit, and lean meat. Remember that the absorption of calcium is disturbed, among others, by cola and spinach. Keep them to a minimum. The child should eat 4-5 times a day, do not forget about the lunch;
- do not get overweight;
- buy a bed with a springy, but quite firm mattress and a small, flat pillow;
- Invest in a height-adjustable desk and chair that grows with your child. The table top should be square or rectangular, not rounded. Make sure that the torso of the seated child is 3-5 cm from the edge of the desk, and the head is slightly tilted; the best distance between the eyes and the end of the pen is 30-35 cm. The forearms should lie on the table top, but the elbows should protrude slightly beyond its edge. Place your computer monitor in front of youface, not to the side. The chair must be adjustable in height, with elbow supports and a convex backrest on the lumbar spine, and a concave backrest on the thoracic spine. When the child is sitting, his feet should rest on the floor;
- buy a good satchel or backpack (not a shoulder bag!) With a stiffened back and wide, adjustable shoulder straps. It must fit snugly against the back, not rest on the bottom. Make sure that the child only wears the necessary things (the Ministry of National Education suggests that the child's schoolbag in grades 1-3 of primary school should not weigh more than 3 kg). It is worth talking to the school about lockers where children would leave some equipment.
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