Kids learn: Good posture now,
healthy backs later

Madison McCormack

Eleven-year-old Madison McCormack says she can't always have good posture when working on her home computer. That's because her dog likes to be in her lap while she's on the Internet.

The fifth grader at Westchester Elementary School said, "When he's on my lap, I have to slump over to reach the mouse."

She made the remark after a health lecture on the importance of taking good care of your back. Exercise therapist Ray Vollmer from the AIMS program at Saint Louis University made the talk.

He said good posture is a very important part of making sure your back doesn't give you trouble later in life.

Vollmer has had over 15 years of therapy experience. He works with adults to rehabilitate their backs after injuries and surgeries.

But, he now also gives his "Back Visions" talks to young kids. He told the Westchester Elementary School fifth graders, "It makes more sense to give the information early before your backs are hurt."

"Good posture now can help prevent back problems before they start," he told the kids.

Claire Gresham

He said two of the biggest causes of poor posture in kids are computers or TV watching. But, he added lack of exercise and poor diet also are bad.

Even cigarette smoking can contribute to future back trouble. Vollmer said, "Cigarettes can dry out the disks in your back." He said disks are the "cushions" that keep the bones of the back from hitting each other.

Eleven-year-old Claire Gresham said, "My dad bugs me about my posture when I'm sitting at the dinner table or watching TV."

Eleven-year-old Shauntele Branom admits she slouches while watching TV. But, she added, "I do get up and stretch from time to time."

Vollmer told the kids, "People start damaging their backs at your age."

Shauntele Branom

He said the back is "one of the most important body parts you have." He pointed out that all other parts of the body are controlled by nerves that all go through the spinal chord.

"You need to take care of your spine," Vollmer said.

Eleven-year-old Tony Reyes said, "I use computers a lot and play games." He said the most important thing he learned from Vollmer's talk was "not to slouch."

The kids were impressed by Vollmer's bare-bones model of the back. He said there are 24 separate bones in the back with "shock absorber" discs between. The back model also showed how the nerves come out of the back.

"If you don't have correct posture, you can pinch those nerves. That can hurt your hips, your legs and even your fingers," he said.

Tony Reyes

Eleven-year-old Damani Chandler said he tends to sit slumped "when I get bored."

He added, "I didn't think smoking would have an effect on the back but now I do."

Both Damani and Shauntele said they had hurt their backs. He said he got hurt playing football and she fell when she slid on ice. But, neither of them had to see a doctor.

Shauntele said, "My back hurt for about two weeks but I stretched it out."

Vollmer pointed out that "standing up straight" is actually a misnomer. Correct posture actually makes sure the back curves in the right places. He said the spine isn't actually straight but has three natural curves.

Damani Chandler

The first is an inward curve in the neck area. Then, the spine naturally curves out in the area behind your chest. Finally, there's another inward curve in the small of your back.

He said poor posture makes the back curve in the wrong places.

One of the kids asked about posture when you're sleeping. She said she liked to curl up in a ball when she sleeps.

He said posture when you're sleeping isn't as important because you are lying down. That means your back isn't carrying as much weight as when you are standing erect.

He also said swimming is an ideal exercise because it keeps the muscles limber and puts very little weight on the back.

"When you're in water, you hardly weigh anything," he said.