Postural deformities are commonly encountered problems among children.

Most of the aches and

pains faced by adults are not the result of injuries, but of the long-term effects of distortions in
posture or alignment that have their origins in childhood or adolescence. Due to the above-
mentioned reasons, childhood obesity has increased extraordinarily during the yester decades. It
also leads to various postural deformities among children.

COMMON POSTURAL DEFORMITIES List down.

Various types of postural deformities are discussed below:

Spinal Curvature
Bow Legs
Flatfoot
Round Shoulders
Knock-knees

Spinal Curvature Explain

This type of deformity is related to the spine. This deformity is caused by carrying excessive
weight beyond one's capacity. There are three types of spinal deformities

Kyphosis

Lordosis

coliosis

(a) Kyphosis

Kyphosis implies an increase or exaggeration of a backward or posterior curve or a decrease or

reversal of a forward curve. It is also called round upper back. Depression of chest is common in
kyphosis (i) Causes of Kyphosis: Kyphosis is caused by malnutrition. illness, crowded areas,
unavailability of pure air, insufficient exercise, rickets, carrying heavy loads on shoulders, Same

unsuitable furniture, weak muscles, shyness among girls, habit of doing work by leaning
forward, etc.

(ii) Precautions: If specific precautions are not followed, it may

result in Kyphosis. So, the teachers and parents should pay specific attention so as to avoid this
disorder. From the very beginning, they should teach appropriate posture of sitting standing and
walking to children so that their posture may remain balanced. Proper and adequate exercise is
not only helpful in maintaining proper posture but also controls the problem of kyphosis.

(iii) Remedies: The following exercises should be performed for the remedy
of kyphosis.

Sit in a chair such that your hips should touch the back of the chair While looking upward, hold
your hands behind the back in such a way that your shoulders may remain stretched hackward.
Remain in th

position for some time. 2. Always keep a pillow under

your back while sleeping.

. Bend your head backward in standing position 4. Perform Dhamran the yogic asana regularly.
D

5. Lie down on your back. Keep your hands near the shoulders. Now,

straighten up your arms slowly and raise the chest. Head should be kept backwards. Maintain
this position for some time 6. Hold out your arms at the shoulder level and bend your elbows
Stap your elbows back to the starting position. Repeat this exercise 8 times for the best results.

(b) Lordosis

Mordosis is the inward curvature of spine. In fact, it is an increased forward curve in the lumber
region. It creates problem in standing and walking. The body seems to be stiff. Lordosis can be
corrected in the early stage.

(Causes of Lordosis: Generally, imbalanced diet, improper e improper development of muscles,

obesity and diseases affecting vert and spinal muscles are the causes of lordows. In addition to
these not performing exercise and eating excessive food are also the majo causes of lordosis.

ii) Precautions:

2. Obesity should be kept away specially in early

1. Balanced diet should be taken.

body should be kept straight while

age. 3. The

4. Excessive intake of food should be avoided . (iii) Remedies: For the remedy of lordosis, the

carrying weight.

following exercises should be performed..

1. While maintaining a standing position, bend forward from hip level. Repeat this exercise 10

times.

2. Lie down on your back and raise your head

and legs simultaneously for 10 times. 3. Perform sit-ups regularly.

4. Halasana should be performed regularly.

5. You should lie down in supine position, i.e., on your back, then should

raise your legs at 45° angle. Remain in this position for some time.

B. Toe-touching exercise should be done for at least 10 times. 7. Sit down and extend your legs
forward. Try to bring your knees to touch your forehead. Repeat this exercise 10 times.

Pawan multa aona Scoliosis lateral Side Postural adaptation of the spine in lateral direction is
called scoliosis. In fact, these are sideways curves and may be called scoliotic curves. Indeed
these curves are identified as either convexity right or right convexity(A simple or single curve
to the left ex convexity left is commonly called a(Curve. Scoliotic curves may be found
in(Sshape.
(i) Causes of Scoliosis: Scoliosis

may be due to many reasons but the main reasons are diseases in the joints of bones, under-
developed legs, infantile paralysis, rickets, carrying heavy loads on one shoulder, unhealthy
conditions, such as inadequate lighting arrangement, uncomfortable desks, partial deafness and
wrong standing posture. It may be caused by congenital or acquired abnormalities of vertebrae,
muscles or nerves.

(i) Precautions:

1. Balanced diet should be taken. 2. Studying should be avoided in sideways bending position.

(iii) Rem flatfo

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(iii) Remedies Scoliosis can be remedied by doing the following exercises

1. Bending exercice should be done on the opposite side of the C shaped curve. 2. Hold the
horizontal bar with hands and let your body hang for some

time.

3. Hold the horizontal bar with your hands and swing your body to the right sides. 4. Swim by
using breaststroke technique.

Platfoot
Our feet act as the base of support for the body while standing. walking, running and jumping.
Flatfoot is commonly found among newborn babies but it becomes a postural deformity if it still
persists during later childhood. The children with flatfoot deformity cannot become efficient
sportspersons. Such children feel pain in their feet when they run. They face problem while
standing and walking. It is easy to observe whether a person has flatfoot deformity or not. Dip
your feet in water and walk on the floor. If there is not a proper arch of footprints on the floor
then you have the deformity of flatfoot. In fact, there should be proper arch of the feet for healthy
feet.

Normal foot

Flatfoot

(i) Causes of Flatfoot: The main cause of flatfoot is weak muscles. Weak muscles of the foot
cannot bear the body weight. Hence, the feet become flat or without arches. Along with this,
rapid increase in body weight. improper shoes, and carrying heavy weight for a longer period are
also the causes of flatfoot.

(ii) Precautions:

1. The shoes should be of proper shape and size. 2. Don't walk bare feet for a long duration.

3. Obesity should be avoided. 4. Don't force or encourage babies to walk at an early stage.

5. Children in early childhood should avoid carrying heavy weight. 6. High heeled shoes should
be avoided.

iii) Remedies: The following exercises should be done to rectify or treat flatfoot deformity.

1. Walking on heels.

2. Walking on inner and outer side of feet.

3. Walking on toes.

4. Stand up and down on the heels.

5. Jumping on toes for some time.

6. Skip on rope.

7. Perform Vajrasana, the yogic asana.

3. Knock-knees
Knock-knees is one of the major postural deformities. In this deformity, both the knees knock or
touch each other while in normal standing position. The gap between the ankles goes on
increasing. The individual faces difficulty in walking and running. He cannot walk or run in a
proper manner. Owing to this deformity, people cannot be good players and may not be selected
in defence services.

(i) Causes: Generally, the lack of balanced diet, especially vitamin D, calcium and phosphorus is
the main cause of knock-knees. It may also be caused due to rickets. Chronic illness, obesity,
flatfoot and carrying heavy weight in early age may be other possible causes of knock-knees.

Knock-knees

(ii) Precautions:

1. Balanced diet should be taken.

2. Babies should not be forced or encouraged to walk at an early age. (iii) Remedies: To rectify
or treat this deformity, the following points should be taken into consideration.

1. Horse-riding is the best exercise for remedying this deformity. 2. Perform Padmasana and
Gomukhasana regularly for some time every

day.

3. Cod liver oil may be beneficial in reducing this deformity up to some extent.

4. Keep a pillow between the knees and stand erect for some time every day.

5. Use of walking calipers may also be beneficial.

4. Bow Legs

Bow legs is also a postural deformity. It is opposite to knock-knees position. If there is a wide
gap between the knees when standing with feet together, the individual has bow legs or genu
varum. In this deformity, knees

are wide apart. There remains a wide gap between knees when

a bow legged person keeps his feet together. This deformity can

be observed easily, when an individual walks or runs.

(i) Causes: The main cause of bow legs is the deficiency of calcium and phosphorus in bones,
Long bones of legs become soft, hence they are bent outward. The chances of bow legs also
increase when children become overweight. This deformity may be due to the deficiency of
vitamin D. Improper way of walking and forcing the babies to walk at a very early age may also
lead to bow legs.

(ii) Precautions:

1. Don't let the children be overweight. 2. Don't force or encourage babies to walk at an early
age.

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3. Balanced diet should be given to children. There should not be any deficiency of calcium,
phosphorus and vitamin D in the diet.

(iii) Remedies: The following measures should be taken for the remedy of bow legs.

1. Vitamin D should be taken in required amount.

2. Balanced diet should be taken. 3. Bow legs can be corrected by walking on the inner edge of
the feet.
4. One should walk by bending the toes inward.

5. Round Shoulders

In this postural deformity, the shoulders become round and sometimes they seem to be bent

forward.

(i) Causes:

1. Round shoulders may be due to heredity.

2. Sitting, standing and walking in bent position may also result in round shoulders.

3. Wearing very tight clothes can lead to round shoulders.

Round shoulders

4. Sitting on improper furniture can cause round shoulders... 5. Lack of proper exercise
especially of shoulders may also lead to round

shoulders.

6. Becoming habitual to press the chest, especially at the time of bench press may cause round
shoulders.