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Does My Child Have Scoliosis or Just Poor Posture?
March 8, 2017
Many children are prone to poor posture. School age kiddos often sit around hunched over at their desks all day, and carry heavy book filled backpacks to and from school and from classroom to classroom. Their brains might be getting a workout, but their posture muscles aren’t. Have you ever looked at your child and wondered: is it just poor posture, or something more serious?
Although some children may have scoliosis during infantile stage, many idiopathic scoliosis tend to develop and progress during periods of juvenile and/or adolescent growth spurts. As a parent, you notice when something doesn’t look right. You do your best to take preventative measures. It’s natural to worry about our children, and when pediatrician visits are only once a year it is even more worrisome – how can I be sure this isn’t diagnosed when it’s too late?
ADAMS FORWARD BEND TEST
One of the clinical tests to help diagnose Scoliosis is called the Adams Forward Bend Test. You can certainly do this yourself with your child; it is a great and noninvasive way to screen your child yourself.
To perform the Adams Forward Bend Test, have your child stand up straight with his or her feet about hip width distance apart. Have them perform a standing roll down, while you watch from all 4 directions: front, back, left side, and right side. If you notice nothing severe about the child’s back muscles and there is no prominence or protruding of the back muscles on either side of the spine, yet when they sit or stand, something doesn’t look right, it may be indicative of poor posture.
POOR POSTURE
To combat the poor posture bad habits that your child has, introduce postural training with either Pilates Practice or a Physical Therapist. You can help your child understand his or her growing body and muscles before it’s too late. Poor posture becomes a bad habit that children carry with them into adulthood, bringing on aches and pains that are easily avoidable if they are taught how to carry themselves properly at an early age. Endurance of the trunk muscles allows anyone to develop good posture, and in a Pilates Practice these are the main focus of most exercises.
SCOLIOSIS
However, if during the Adams Forward Bend Test you notice as the child bends down that one side of the back seems to be more prominent than others, this is likely a positive result. You’ll want to meet with the pediatrician so you can receive a referral to a specialist (who will take X-Rays and give the confirmed diagnosis). You might also be inclined to schedule an appointment with a physical therapist who specializes in scoliosis to confirm your findings.
Screening for scoliosis at an early age is imperative for your child’s spinal health to assist in delaying or preventing from progressing further. Poor posture habits that are nonstructural could be corrected when caught early which may save your little one from a lifetime of aches and pains. Interested in having a Physical Therapist take a look for you instead? Schedule a consultation with us today and we’ll happily assess your child’s needs.