How best can back and movement disorders be prevented?

The best of form of prevention rests in varying the types of movement. Children often have problems with their back due to extended periods of sitting or studying. If they do sports, it is often caused by sports stressing one side of the body, preventing other muscles from being used as much. Children’s backs are often weakened, their necks under excessive stress and they often suffer from migraines. During puberty, problems with weak back muscles can trigger health problems. Children have to exercise regularly and meticulously even though they are already attending a rehabilitation center.

Ensure sufficient amounts of movement

Approximately four fifths of all children suffer from insufficient amount of movement. In addition to studying, reading, being on the computer or tablet, the child should do sports regularly as well. Further, they should go on walks, trips, run, play football (soccer) or table tennis. The amount of activities that they can do after they leave school is quite large. Despite physical education classes being compulsory at primary and elementary schools, it does not represent a sufficient amount for the child’s developing body. Insufficient movement is associated with many problems including improper body posture, loss of muscle mass, child obesity and possibly even type 2 diabetes.

What movement is the best for children?

Varied physical activity three times each day is better for the child’s body than any demanding competitive sport. During such sports, children usually use the same muscles and the others weaken or do not stretch sufficiently. Children do not have to perform excellently in athletics, swimming or football. Instead, sufficient amounts of the right movement, doing healthy sports, climbing trees, running or skipping rope are better. It is important to develop the musculoskeletal system more than it is to excel in sports.

Do not postpone visits to a pediatrician

When you suspect improper body posture, spine deformation, scoliosis or muscular imbalances, do not hesitate and visit your pediatrician. The sooner the child finds its way to a pediatrician, the greater the chance of ensuring and effective change in body posture, but also in the overall lifestyle.

Poor body posture in children

Currently, approximately half of all children suffer from poor body posture. Weak trunk muscles along with muscle imbalances, deep muscle weakness and relaxation of connective tissues all manifest themselves through protruding shoulder blades and the head and shoulders oriented in a forward leaning manner. As a result of poor body posture, children can suffer from orthopedic defects of the spine and pain in the spine as adults. When a child visits a pediatrician, the patient is advised to visit rehabilitation specialists who can correct poor body posture through special exercises.

When is the Vojta Method suitable?

The Vojta Method is most suitable for small babies that were born prematurely or suffer from child hip dysplasia (asymmetry). These type of exercises are usually recommended to mothers by a pediatrician or they are already provided at the birth clinic. This exercise style helps pediatric patients up the age of four suffering from scoliosis, split spinal cord, cerebral palsy, club foot, orthopedic defects of the chest or other neurological diseases. Originally, the exercises were devised by physician Václav Vojta and were intended solely for children. Over time however, this method started being used on adults as well. Adults most commonly use its benefits following strokes, scoliosis, spinal cord injuries, pain around the spine and peripheral paresis (weakness).

Scoliosis in adults and children

Scoliosis is an orthopedic illness characterized and known for deflection of the spine to one side, associated with the rotation of the vertebrae. It can be identified as early as from the age of one. This is why it is essential to attend regular examinations by a pediatrician. Scoliosis can also affect patients in adulthood as a result of diseases of the nervous tissue, muscles or tumors. Physiotherapy and rehabilitation can help patients get rid of its complications.

Are rehabilitation exercises required?

An increasing number of patients need to attend rehabilitation exercises which are led by an experienced specialist. The demand for rehabilitation exercises is on the increase from older patients who have problems with their movement apparatus due to surgery, joint replacements or other surgical procedures. It is also requested by parents of children who attend school, many of them suffering from severe problems in body posture.