Treatment of kyphosis in children

Trying on an eleventh-year-old son of a jersey, you suddenly noticed that his back was round. They looked more attentively and saw what had not been seen before: the corners of the shoulder blades are too large. And, having asked the son to bend down and get to the floor with your fingertips, you saw that it is beyond his power. So, we need to urgently show the child to the orthopedic doctor.

All these signs can speak of a beginning spine disease - juvenile kyphosis. It is called youthful because it is most often detected in adolescents. In this case, boys are sick several times more often than girls. Treatment of kyphosis in children is better to begin as early as possible, and for this you must first understand what exactly is kyphosis.

Description of the disease.

The very word "kyphosis" means "twisted, curved".However, keep in mind that a normal spine should not be absolutely straight. He has several physiological curves. They are simply necessary to increase the endurance of the spine, to give it cushioning and spring properties. The elasticity of the spine, the ability to soften shocks and tremors are also achievable due to the arrangement and structure of the intervertebral discs, which are special pads of cartilaginous tissues. If the posture is disturbed or the spinal column deviates, the physiological curves may be smoothed out, or may become more pronounced. That's what youthful kyphosis looks like.

Reasons.

The cause of this disease has not yet been completely clarified, but physicians suggest that it is based on the process of circulatory disturbance in the vertebral area of ​​the vertebrae( apophysis).As a result, the tissue of the apophysis is exfoliated, its structure is sharply disturbed, and then the front zones of the vertebrae begin to flatten, while slowing their growth.

The spine is formed throughout the entire childhood and in adolescence. That is why the treatment of kyphosis in children is so important - after all, under favorable conditions, the structure of apophyses can sometimes be restored. The height of the vertebrae will reach the norm, then the kyphosis will disappear even without special treatment. However, sometimes the disease progresses too fast. Most often this process falls on a period of intensive growth, especially if the child is physically weakened, often sick, moves little, does not want to engage in physical education. But it should be understood that overloading in the course of playing sports can exacerbate the development of kyphosis in children and even become its main cause.

Signs of kyphosis.

If the disease progresses rapidly, all intervertebral discs are involved in the process. They begin to loosen up, thin out, and under the influence of loads the cartilaginous tissue penetrates into the vertebrae. As a result, the formation of the so-called hernia Schmorl. To the kyphosis begins to join osteochondrosis, in the vertebrae appears a mass of beak-like growths, which can no longer resolve, but remain forever.

The disease is signaled, in addition to external symptoms, general fatigue, back pain, only after resting in a lying position. The child becomes increasingly difficult to lean forward, the distance between the fingers of the lowered arms when tilted and the floor increases to 25-30 centimeters. And later, the pain in the back is beginning to be troubled almost constantly, to give in the popliteal cavities and hips, and rest is less and less often helps with this. In some cases( especially severe) with the progression of the disease, the nerve roots are squeezed, even the strongest weakness of the lower extremities may occur.

Treatment of kyphosis.

To prevent this from happening, you need to start treating the kyphosis as early as possible. It is very important to start taking measures to ensure the overall strengthening of the body. They can be advised by a pediatrician or a doctor in a teenage room.

To sleep a child is better on an even hard bed with a small flat pillow. It is best to place a plywood shield under a thin mattress.

Please note in which position the child is in the course of reading and preparing the lessons. He must sit on a stiff chair so that his feet firmly rest on the floor, and his back does not slouch. Often children start work without releasing the table before it, and when they write, they hang elbows from the table. And it is necessary to have free forearms on the table - so they will serve as a support and unload the spine.

In day mode, you need to provide a 20-30-minute rest. In this case, the child should lie on his back. Walking in the fresh air is also mandatory. Let the child play volleyball, football, basketball, in the winter visit the pool, in the summer - float in an open reservoir. The most useful at the same time is swimming on the back. Also useful baths with sea salt( water should be 38-39 °), the course of treatment - 19-20 baths.

Let your child's morning begin with a charge that includes exercises to strengthen the muscles of the back and abdominals. If it does not work in the morning, the lessons can be postponed to a later time, but be sure to perform the exercises every day.