PROTECTING A CHILD’S SPINE

Did you know that the spine and the nervous system are among the first organs to develop during the initial stages of pregnancy? And as the child develops, the spine develops too.

The primary curves in the spine develop during fetal development. It is after delivery when the child can hold its head straight that the secondary curves develop. And as children grow, the spine curves develop into a normal spine.

A normal spine is strong and flexible. It varies in size and shape from person to person and has a natural curvature that allows us to walk, balance, sit and twist. However, there are many cases, when the child’s spine could have some problems, just like any other organ in the body.

While some diseases of the spine will need expert medical interventions, there are certain things that parents need to realise and follow meticulously. These include the ordinary things that parents do, like changing diapers and carrying the baby. Unusual as it may sound, it is true that these daily activities could create stress for the baby. So, always follow the guidelines from the care professionals while doing these everyday activities.

As the child grows and begins school, the heavy bags they have to carry can cause back problems that could linger long into adulthood. Muscle strain, distortion of the curves and rounding of the shoulders. If your child’s school bag weighs more than 10% of the child’s weight, you are inviting trouble. A backpack with a moulded frame and an adjustable hip strap rather than the traditional school bag with handles could save the child from having spinal stress.

The most important thing is, never ignore your child when he complains of back pain. At KIMS, we provide the best of care for spinal injuries and back pains.