How to perform a home check-up and test whether my child has a postural defect?

Does my child have a crooked spine? To answer this question you don't actually need to see a doctor right away. You can follow the guidelines below and perform a home check-up first. If you notice any irregularities, deformities or asymmetries during the check-up then it’s definitely worth visiting an orthopedist or a physical therapist in order to thoroughly examine the problem.

Carry out the check-up when your child is wearing underwear only.

• Below are some tips before performing the check-up.
• carry out the check-up from a distance of approx. 1 meter
• have your child wear their underwear only
• examine the symmetry of the child’s body but bear in mind that nobody is perfectly symmetrical – minor asymmetries are natural.

We examine the front first

1.  Check the positioning of the head – whether it’s positioned straight, if there are no tendencies to deviate out of this position and tilt or turn to one side. If the head tends to turn to one side, it may indicate a neck muscle contracture.
2.  Check the positioning of the shoulders. Are they on the same level? Is there any significant unevenness or asymmetry? Large asymmetries or unevenness may indicate that the spine is crooked in this section.
3.  Check the waist triangles (this is the space between the waist and the arms placed along the body) in order to see if they are of a similar size. Is one of them not flatter than the other? Are they located on the same level?
4.  Check the symmetry of the hip joints – asymmetries in this section may indicate the spine is crooked in the lumbar section.
5. Even positioning of the knees – are the knees on the same level?
6. Positioning of the lower leg – check symmetry.
7. We then move on to examine the back
8. Once again check the positioning of the head, shoulder joints, and waist triangles – this time from the back.
9. Examine the inferior angle of the shoulder blades and the degree to which the shoulder blades are winged. This should not exceed the thickness of 1 adult finger.
10. Examine the buttocks’ symmetry.
11. Examine the line of the knee joints – whether it is even and whether no significant asymmetry is present.
12. Conclude the examination by checking the position of the ankles – i.e. check whether the ankles are straight and do not bend inwards too much.

First of all, we should pay close attention to our children – on the beach during holidays, at the swimming pool, at home when they’re changing.

We would also like to point your attention to situations where your child shows a tendency to tilt their head to one side. Podczas posiłków, czy odrabiania lekcji, czy dziecko nie ma tendencji do nieprawidłowego ustawiania barków.

What to do in order to prevent postural defects?

As is widely known, prevention is always better than cure. What to do to prevent postural defects? Exercises for a straight back for children will form the foundation., Regularity, however, is key – and this may not be that straightforward. So, why don’t you start exercising together with your child and turn a workout into an opportunity to spend time together? The best results can be achieved when you reach for a specialized rehabilitation mat. Is this the only solution? Of course it’s not! Considering that nowadays people prefer a sedentary lifestyle and sometimes slouch as a result, it is worth using proven posture correctors. A good example is a sitting pillow for the lumbar spine or a SpiderMed from a rehabilitation store. Nevertheless, it is also worth bearing in mind that any suspicion of a postural defect should be examined by a specialist.