Physical therapy classes for children. When and how to conduct physiotherapy exercises for infants? Posture Correction Exercises

23.11.201927.05.2017

Unfortunately, even small children are not immune from problems with the spine, poor posture, because modern kids spend more and more time with their parents at home watching TV or with a phone and a tablet in their hands. And such a lifestyle will certainly affect the state of the child's musculoskeletal system. But if it is problematic for adults to correct the curvature of the spine, then in children this is all possible with the help of exercise therapy. This is a physiotherapy exercise that compensates for the lack of motor activity. What features it has in children and what benefits it brings, we will analyze in our article.

What is LFC

This is a set of exercises that is more reminiscent of yoga, because it is performed smoothly, slowly. The basis of physiotherapy exercises is the use of the main function of our body - this is movement. The whole complex is a selected exercise combined with proper breathing.

as a separate section exercise therapy medicine isolated only in the 20th century, but even Plato noted that movement is the same healing power as drugs. Therapeutic physical education is not only exercises, but also water procedures, normal walking, outdoor games.

The positive aspects of exercise therapy

In order for the body to develop normally, it is important not only proper nutrition but also regular physical activity. Often adults forget about this when they start scolding their kids for being too active. Exercise therapy for children is not just physical therapy, it also plays an educational role:

The child receives some hygiene knowledge.
Get to know the world around you better.
Learn to relate to the world around you.

What does physical therapy give a child? Parents often ask this question, believing that only serious sports can bring benefits. But this is far from true. Exercise therapy exercises:

contribute to the harmonious development of the musculoskeletal system;
correct posture;
back muscles are strengthened;
in the presence of asymmetry of posture, a correction occurs.

Exercise therapy is a complex that can prevent postural disorders. Therapeutic physical education develops endurance, strength, improves coordination of movements.

Also thanks to exercise therapy:

immunity is strengthened;
the body becomes less susceptible to various pathogens;
the child adapts better to school;
the work of the whole organism is normalized;
sleep and appetite improves.

Children especially need exercise therapy for diseases of the musculoskeletal system. But a preliminary consultation of a specialist is necessary in order to choose an effective complex.

Varieties of exercises

Some believe that physiotherapy exercises are a common gymnastics complex, but experts say that any active recreation can be attributed to exercise therapy. Often classes with children are held in a playful way, so that the kids are interested.

All exercises that are included in the complex can be divided into:

Are common. They are used to strengthen the entire body.
Special exercises are aimed at a specific system, for example, exercise therapy for fractures will contribute to the speedy healing and restoration of mobility of the injured limb. If there is scoliosis or flat feet, then the exercises are selected to correct these pathologies.

All exercises can also be divided into groups:

active movements.
Static to hold postures.
Passive. These exercises are usually included in the complex for babies, because the baby is not yet able to do them on his own.

The nature of the exercises also differs, they are:

Respiratory.
Relaxing.
Stretching.
Corrective.
Coordination.

Taking into account what deviations in the musculoskeletal system the child has, the specialist selects a set of exercises.

Contraindications for exercise therapy

Despite the enormous benefits of therapeutic exercises, it is not indicated for all children; contraindications include:

The presence of any pathologies in an acute form.
Malignant tumors.
Frequent bleeding.
Heart disease.
Violation of the rhythm of the heart.
Poor health of the child.
Heat.

Even in the absence of contraindications, if the child falls ill with a common cold, then it is worth interrupting exercise therapy for a few days, and resume it again after recovery.

Features of children's exercise therapy

Since classes are held with children, the instructor must thoroughly prepare. It is important to choose as much as possible more exercise in a playful way. But the following points must also be taken into account:

The age of the kids.
The level of physical development.
The state of the psyche.
The development of fine motor skills.

Therapeutic gymnastics contributes not only to proper formation posture in a child, strengthening the body, but also normalizing the work of the cardiovascular system.

Some rules for exercise therapy

This is a complex that must be performed in compliance with some rules that can make classes more effective:

Before the first lesson, it is necessary to visit a doctor, because in the presence of serious pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, medical assistance may also be required.
Classes should be conducted by specialists who can adequately assess the condition of the child.
It is necessary to load the baby gradually.
Exercise therapy exercises should not cause pain to the child when performed.
To make it more interesting for kids, it is necessary to select a variety of exercises, include game moments.
It is not worth starting the complex immediately after eating, at least 45 minutes should pass.

You need to work in a room that is well ventilated.
If the complex is done with a baby, then it should begin and end with a pleasant stroke, but for older children, relaxing and breathing exercises are done at the beginning of the complex and at the end.
Some people think that exercise therapy complex does not require a warm-up, but it is not. It is also divided into an introductory, main and final part.
The course of exercise therapy is usually prescribed by a doctor, it can be repeated several times during the year.

Features of exercise therapy for scoliosis in a child

Considering that our children now spend much more time at computer monitors than in active movement, it is not surprising that many are already in primary school have not correct posture. If everything is still not so neglected, then there is every chance to return the straight back to the child.

For this, it is important to choose correct exercises, and only an orthopedist who needs to be visited can do it competently. In serious cases, not only gymnastics may be required, but also the use of a special corset.

Depending on the type of curvature of the spine, exercises are selected:

If diagnosed with kyphosis thoracic, then exercise therapy for children must necessarily include exercises to strengthen the muscles of the shoulder girdle, as well as to stretch the muscles of the chest.
In the presence of a flat back, it is necessary to choose exercises in such a way that the muscles of the back, legs, shoulder girdle.
Scoliosis requires exercises to increase the mobility of the spine, improve coordination of movements, and stretch the spinal column.

Exercise therapy for the shoulder, lumbar - it does not matter, it requires that the exercises be performed regularly. If you practice only a couple of times a week, then there will be no effect.

Approximate complex for preschoolers

It has already been noted that for kids it is necessary to include many game moments in the complex, but the main exercises can be distinguished:

It is necessary to start the complex with a warm-up. You can start by walking with high knees for a few seconds, on toes, heels.
While waving your arms to the sides, at the same time rise on your toes.
exercise with gymnastic stick. Pick it up from the floor, lift it up on outstretched arms and put it on the floor again.
Swing your legs from a prone position, while the pelvis should not come off the floor.
Exercise "swallow".
Half-squat, bending your knees, and take your hands back, return to initial position. The back during the exercise should be straight.
Coordination exercise: take turns standing on one leg with arms outstretched to the side.

Exercises can be done using various gymnastic equipment, for example, jump ropes, balls, hoops.

Approximate complex for schoolchildren

After warming up, you can begin to perform the following exercises:

Lower and raise your arms with the ball, while the elbows should be apart.
Keeping your back straight, you need to lower and raise the ball behind your head.
Put one hand behind the back from above, and the other from below and try to fasten them into the lock.
Tilts to the side with arms outstretched to the side.
Take a position lying on the floor, and bend your back without lifting your pelvis.
From a kneeling position with an emphasis on the hands, bend and round the back.
Lie on your stomach and at the same time raise your legs and shoulders, lingering for a few seconds.
Bicycle exercise.

After the end of the complex, you must definitely walk around, perform breathing exercises. During classes, the coach must necessarily monitor the correctness of the exercises, breathing and the position of the child's back.

Violation of posture is not yet a sentence. If parents pay attention to this in a timely manner, then a special complex will not only quickly return the child to an even back, but also strengthen the entire body.

Childhood is not only that wonderful time when the baby is distinguished by spontaneity, liveliness, curiosity, but also this time - when his child's body grows and develops, when the formation of all body systems takes place. Therefore, it is very important to help the child during this period, but not only psychologically (play with him, study, explain), but also physically, namely, to do gymnastics. And it is necessary to do this, even if medicine does not show it. For a child (especially under the age of one), gymnastics is of great importance, I must say - even more than for an adult. After all, physical education has a very beneficial effect on both the physical and mental development of children. Thanks to systematic studies physical education in children is the timely emergence of motor and speech skills, and, in the future, their proper development and improvement.

And if the child is premature, artificially fed, inactive, if he has a poor appetite, he is nervously excitable and has suffered any disease, then in such cases physical education is especially necessary and important. And a very great need for classes physical culture experienced by those children who have deviations in physical or mental development.

I must say that exercise therapy for children who are not yet a year old consists of reflex, passive and active exercises. What are these exercises? The movements that the child makes in response to some kind of stimulation from the outside are called reflex exercises. These movements are unconscious. If the person involved with the child does the exercises for him, i.e. the child is passive at this moment, then such exercises are called passive. And if the child does the exercises himself, does everything on his own, then, accordingly, these are active exercises. Also, physical education for children, as a rule, is complemented by children's massage.

Gymnastics for children from 1.5 to 3 months.

It should be noted that children of this age are different increased tone muscles, and they also reveal some innate reflexes. Therefore, at this age, it is recommended to use only reflex exercises. Namely:

extension of the spine - the child lies on his side, and he evokes a reflex as a result of running his fingers along both sides of the spine from the buttocks to the shoulder girdle (it is recommended to perform the exercise 2-3 times on each side).
the next exercise is raising the head. The reflex is evoked when lifting a child, who lies on his stomach, with one palm, while the other palm holds the baby by the feet and shins (repeat 1-2 times).
Flexion and extension of the toes - this reflex is caused when the child's legs are grasped with one hand, while the other hand first presses on the sole at the roots of the fingers, and then runs a finger along the outer edge of the foot (the exercise should be performed 3-4 times).
And the last recommended exercise is “dancing”. This reflex is evoked when the child is placed on the table, supporting under the armpits (perform 4-6 times).

Physical education for children from 3 to 4 months.

This age of the child is characterized by the fact that he has a balance in the tone of the flexor and extensor muscles of the hands. Therefore, at this time, emphasis should be placed on passive exercises for babies. The following exercises are required:

The child lies on his back, and his arms are crossed over his chest (repeat 4-6 times).
The child also lies on his back, and he is turned on his stomach to the right and left - a passive exercise in which the child is held by the feet with one hand and the arm bent at the elbow with the other (first one arm, then the other) (perform 1-2 times).
Extension of the spine and legs is a reflex exercise, during which the child is held with one hand under the stomach, and with the other by the legs, and rises above the table (do 2-3 times).
The child lies on his back and a reflex exercise is performed with him - abduction and adduction of the feet, in which you need to run your finger (with light pressure) along the edge and around the child's foot (perform 2-3 times).
And, finally, "dancing", which was mentioned above (repeat 6-8 times).

Gymnastics for children from 4 to 5 months.

This age is remarkable in that the child is establishing the tone of the muscles of the legs and neck. At this time, the following exercises should be done with the children:

Passive exercise - crossing the child's arms on the chest plus flexion and extension of the arms (repeat 6-8 times).
Reflex exercise - the child lies on his back, and the head, spine and legs of the child are bent, while you need to take the baby under the back and buttocks and hold it above the table (perform 1-2 times).
Then we perform a passive exercise called "stomping". For this, the child's shins are clasped with their hands and the legs are bent at the hip and knee joints, feet fall on the table alternately and both at once (repeat 8-12 times).
Reflex exercise - turning the child from the back to the stomach to the right and left (perform 1-2 times).
Then the next reflex exercise - the child is lifted, holding under the stomach, and the extension of the spine and legs is performed (do 1-2 times)
Passive exercise - "sitting down". When performing this exercise, the child is placed on his back, his hands are taken above the wrist, they are taken to the side, slightly sipping (perform 2-3 times)
Again, a passive exercise - lifting the child to his feet. The child is placed on his stomach, and his arms, bent at the elbows, are pulled back (repeat 2-3 times)
And finally active exercise- "overstepping". When performing this exercise, the child is held under the armpits and placed with their feet on the table (do 1 time)

Physical education for children from 6 to 9 months.

A child at this age develops voluntary movements. Therefore, the complex of physical education includes active exercises that encourage the child to crawl, sit and stand. The following exercises are recommended:

The child lies on his back and a passive exercise is carried out with him - raising straight arms and circular motions V shoulder joints(perform 4-6 times).
Passive exercise - raising straight legs, in which the child's knees are fixed with hands and his legs rise to a vertical position (repeat 4-6 times).
Passive exercise. The child lies on his back, and circular movements of the legs are performed in hip joints(perform 4-6 times).
Reflex exercise - turn from back to stomach to the right and left (do 1-2 times).
Passive exercise - abduction of the shoulders back to the attention of the shoulder blades. When performing this exercise, the child is placed on his stomach and his arms are pulled back (repeat 1-3 times).
The child is placed on his back and a passive exercise is performed - flexion and extension of the legs (perform 3-5 times).
And finally, an active exercise - crawling. To do this, a brightly colored toy is placed in front of the child, and his feet are fixed in such a way that the legs are bent at the knee and hip joints (repeat 4-6 times).

Gymnastics for children from 9 to 12 months.

This age of the child is characterized by the fact that he develops coordinated movements, as well as the desire to walk. You need to do the following exercises:

Active exercise - flexion and extension of the legs. Can be performed from any position (repeat 5-6 times).
Active exercise - standing up. In this case, the child must be supported and guided (perform 1-2 times).
Active exercise - tilting and straightening the torso. This exercise performed when the child stands with his back against an adult, and a toy is placed near his feet and the child is asked to pick it up (do 2-3 times).
An active exercise, which consists in getting a toy, similar to the previous exercise, only the toy is located at the level of the child's shoulders (perform 4-6 times).
An active exercise that consists of bending and unbending the child's arms. The child is invited to grasp the rings, and then the adult pulls them, bending and unbending the child's arms (repeat 5-6 times).
Active exercise - squat. The child is invited to sit down, while an adult should hold him and help him (perform 4-6 times)
And, the last - walking (active exercise). This exercise should be done for approximately 1-2 minutes.

Every parent should remember that physical education for a child should be daily activity, it should bring joy and pleasure to the child. Try to perform all of the listed exercises, if you yourself do not know how to perform them correctly, then ask the pediatrician to show you, and in the future you will be able to do them yourself at home.

Therapeutic exercise for children is an integral part of the development and promotion of health in the presence of any developmental problems. Physiotherapy exercises for children allow you to increase, improve blood circulation and quickly adapt the baby to a visit kindergarten. Properly selected exercise therapy for children sometimes works real miracles: immunity is restored, mental performance is activated, hyperactivity is reduced, and. How to conduct physical therapy classes for children before school age can be found in this article. It presents exemplary complexes exercises and recommendations from practitioners.

Nothing weakens the body like lack of movement (lack of exercise). Physical activity increases the body's resistance and helps it fight infections. A trained body is more resistant to overheating, cooling, fluctuations in atmospheric pressure, viruses and infections. An increase in resistance to infections is associated with an increase in the production of macrophages - "eaters" of pathogens.

Therapeutic physical education (LFK) for preschool children at home

Therapeutic physical education for preschool children should become an indispensable part of physical education baby. Immunity is strengthened by all types of aerobic exercise: swimming, gymnastics, aerobics, running, walking, etc. Breathing exercises are very important for boosting immunity.

Research scientists have shown that exercise therapy at home for children has a more beneficial effect on immune system than a balanced diet.

With respiratory diseases in children, gas exchange is disturbed, the metabolism changes, the protective and adaptive reactions of the body decrease.

During illness, severely limited physical activity baby. At the same time, the parents themselves are trying to protect the sick child from any physical activity. Therapeutic exercise (AFK) improves the functioning of the respiratory muscles, bronchi and lungs. Gymnastic exercises make breathing deeper, more rhythmic, strengthen the respiratory muscles, improve the drainage function of the bronchi. Increased ventilation of the lungs leads to a significant increase in gas exchange, the blood is better enriched with oxygen.

ROS activates the production of biologically active substances that increase the body's resistance to viruses and bacteria. Physical exercise, enhancing the activity of the adrenal glands, which produce anti-inflammatory hormones, reduce the body's sensitivity to the effects of various allergens.

Consequently, the correct and regular use of exercise therapy in the treatment of a sick child significantly accelerates the process of his recovery and prevents repeated relapses of the disease.

look physiotherapy exercises for children in the video, which presents the most relevant advice from experts and some exercises:

Exercise therapy (physiotherapy exercises) for children 2-3 years old and a child at 4 years old (with video)

The use of physical exercises in children of the 2nd and 3rd years of life. Exercise therapy for children 2 years old consists only of active physical exercises that act with the greatest load. It must be remembered that in the second and third years of life there are significant differences in the pace and nature of the development of individual children, which requires a strictly individual approach. Up to a year and a half, it is recommended to study with one or two children, then the group size can be increased to 4-6 people.

Given the rapid fatigue of children of the 2nd and 3rd years of life, you should carefully dose physical activity. Physiotherapy exercises for a child of 2 years old should be organized in a playful way, otherwise it will not be very easy to keep the baby’s interest in classes.

The complex of physiotherapy exercises for children of 3 years old includes 8-12 exercises for various groups muscles. It is not recommended to repeat the same exercise for a long time.

It is important to keep children happy. Physical exercises should have an imitation character (“passed over the bridge”, “climbed into the hare’s house”, “plucked an apple”, etc.).

In physical therapy for children 3-4 years old, toys, simple gymnastic equipment (balls, sticks, benches, etc.) are widely used. After a year and a half, classes can be carried out using a game method, in the form of short motor stories (“a walk in the forest”, “we went to visit”, etc.).

Exercise therapy for children 3 years old can be carried out on the street, at different times of the year it can be summer and winter active species sports and outdoor games. From 2 to 3 years old, children are taught sledding. Kids ride along the paths, descend from small snow slides, from 5 to 6 years old they carry each other. Sledding develops in children strength, agility, determination.

From 3 - 4 years old children can be taught to ski. At the same time, strict sequence and gradualness in mastering the basic elements of movements must be observed. At first, children move without sticks. Depending on age and skills, skiing time is from 15 - 20 to 40 minutes. Such movements strengthen and develop all major muscle groups, improve the work of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

Ice skating is taught to children from the age of 5. With the right organization of classes, exercises contribute to the development of the main muscle groups, the formation of correct posture, strengthening the ligaments of the foot, such skills as agility, endurance, balance. Watch exercise therapy for children on the video, which shows all the basic exercises and types of outdoor games:

Cycling is available for children from 2 to 3 years old. The size of the bike must match the height of the child. The duration of the ride at a moderate pace is for children 3-4 years old 10-12 minutes, for children 6-7 years old - 20-30 minutes. These exercises contribute to the development of endurance, agility, strengthen the muscles of the legs and feet, train the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

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Therapeutic exercise for children is not only a method of treating diseases that have already arisen, but also a way to prevent them with the help of physical exercises.

What are the benefits of exercise therapy?

Physical activity is a necessary condition for the normal development of a growing organism, which, unfortunately, adults often forget about. But children's physical education, in addition to therapeutic and preventive, also has an educational function: the baby acquires hygiene skills, learns the world around him and himself in it. Physical therapy exercises are important for the harmonious development of the musculoskeletal system in children of any age, the formation of posture in children of preschool and school age, as well as strengthening the spine and back muscles, and eliminating postural asymmetry in scoliosis.

Exercises are useful for the prevention and treatment of postural disorders, correction of flat feet, development of strength, agility, endurance, normalization of the endocrine system and strengthening of the immune system. Also, classes will be important for improving the adaptation of the child at school, increasing resistance to stress, improving academic performance in school-age children and improving the emotional background, hyposensitization (reducing sensitivity to allergens), as well as general strengthening of the body.

Types of loads

Exercise therapy can include not only sets of exercises, but also any type of outdoor activity: games, sports, gymnastics, carried out in the form of a warm-up by the teacher during school lesson. Physical education for kids is characterized by activities in the form of a game. For school-age children, the classical gymnastic method of exercise therapy is also used.

Exercises are divided into general, used to strengthen the body as a whole, and special, affecting a specific system, for example, aimed at strengthening the spine, leg and back muscles with scoliosis and flat feet.

Allocate a large class dynamic exercises, which include active and passive movements, and the class static exercises aimed at maintaining a certain position of the body. Passive movements are often included in the gymnastics complex for children of the first year of life.

By nature, they distinguish: breathing, corrective, relaxing, stretching, coordination exercises. In babies up to a year, reflex exercises are used. During the preschool period, it is preferable to use a class of game exercises.

Contraindications

Classes are not indicated for acute and malignant diseases, bleeding, decompensated heart disease. Do not start classes if you have a fever, feel unwell, or have a heart rhythm disorder.

What are the rules to be followed while exercising?

Visit a doctor as an examination may be required, for example, for scoliosis. It is necessary to deal with a specialist who can correctly assess the state of health of the child. The load should gradually increase. Movement should not be painful. Avoid monotonous exercises, as preschool and primary school kids can get bored. The child should not be allowed to get tired.

You should not exercise on a full stomach, it is better to conduct classes 30 minutes before a meal or 45-50 minutes after it.

The room must be ventilated, the air temperature is not higher than 22 degrees. In preschool children, and especially in children under one year old, classes should begin and end with stroking, it is also worth introducing this technique between movements. For older children, it is necessary to include breathing and relaxation exercises in the complex.

Observe the regularity and staging of classes: you need to start with a warm-up, followed by the main part and a hitch. The duration and number of exercise therapy courses is prescribed by a doctor, usually 2-3 courses are carried out during the year.

Exercises for children of the first year of life

At the age of one year, passive and reflex movements, as well as elements of massage, are mainly used. At the age of up to 3 months, stroking and reflex exercises are used:

pressure on the sole at the base of the fingers (causes flexion of the fingers);
running along the outer side of the sole towards the heel (causes the extension of the fingers);
reflex crawling;
holding big and index fingers along the spine from the bottom up (causes reflex extension of the spine);
during classes, you should talk affectionately with the baby;
after each exercise, stroking is performed.

In children older than 3 months, the complex includes a class of passive exercises:

flexion and extension of the arms;
spreading the arms and crossing them on the chest;
flexion of the legs at the knee and hip joints;
turn from back to stomach and vice versa;
crawling behind an object;
raising hands for a toy;
exercises are carried out alternately with stroking, rubbing.

As the child learns to stand and walk, a class of active exercises is added:

warm-up and cool-down in the form of passive movements;
stomping in place;
assisted walking;
tilt for a toy;
overstepping the barrier.

Remember that exercise therapy with early age contribute to uniform muscle strengthening, prevention of spinal curvature and the formation of correct posture from childhood, because the main class of disorders in the preschool period is scoliosis and flat feet.

Exercises for scoliosis and gait disorders

The main task in scoliosis is to strengthen the back muscles and create a muscular corset to maintain right position spine. Remember: Your child may need individual complex posture correction, for the development of which you need to contact a specialist! With rapidly progressive scoliosis (with an increase in the angle of curvature of the spine more than 10 degrees during the year), surgery may be required!

An approximate set of exercises for scoliosis of the 1st degree:

Start with a warm-up, installation and control of correct posture.

Walking in a circle with the control of posture in the mirror for 1 minute.

Walking with straight arms raised for 40 seconds.

Walking on toes with outstretched arms - 40 seconds.

Walking on heels - 30 seconds.

Alternately throwing straight arms up (10-12 times).

Body tilts to the sides (10 times).

Hands on the belt, heels together, socks apart. Sit down, stretching your arms forward, return to the starting position (10-15 times).

Raising the gymnastic stick up and moving the straight leg back (4-6) times.

Bending the legs at the knee and hip joints from a supine position, hands behind the head (6-8 times). The performance is slow, with tension in the back muscles.

Exercise "bike" (6-8 times).

Alternately lifting straight legs from a prone position (4-6 times).

Lying on your back, arms bent at the elbows. Bending the back with emphasis on the elbows and heels (3-4 times).

Raising a large ball on outstretched arms (8-10 times).

Walking with high knees - 2-3 minutes.

Walking at a slow pace.

Posture control.

Active movements alternate with exercises to relax the muscles of the back and breathing exercises. For children of preschool and primary school age, an element of the game is added to the exercise therapy complex for scoliosis and other postural disorders.

Exercises for flat feet

Flat feet occur due to the weakness of the muscular-ligamentous apparatus of the lower leg and foot. The goal of exercise therapy for flat feet is to strengthen these muscles and ligaments. Correction of this disease is also extremely important because it affects the condition of the joints, back and spine. How younger child, the more effective treatment will be for such a violation, it is preferable to start from preschool age.
The main class of exercises for flat feet is walking:

Start with a general warm-up.

Walking on toes.

Walking with support on the outer edge of the foot.

Walking with bent toes and adducted feet.

Capturing and moving the ball with the feet.

Grasping the fingers of the foot of the stick.

Log walking.

These exercises are used not only for flat feet, but also for its prevention.

When walking in the warm season, preschool children can take off their shoes and walk barefoot on the ground, grass, which improves mood, strengthens the muscles of the legs, hardens, and is useful not only for flat feet, but also for violations of posture and gait.

It is from the time of the school bench that most children have signs of scoliosis of the initial stage, which at best remains unchanged throughout life, at worst it progresses to more severe forms (3 and 4). Treating scoliosis often means forcing the spine to align in a way such as stretching or wearing a brace. But what many patients don't know is that there is a third option: improving the connection between the brain and muscles through physical rehabilitation (therapy) of scoliosis.

What is exercise therapy against scoliosis in children

Many types of scoliosis in children aged 10–15 years are idiopathic in origin, which means that doctors do not know the specific cause of the onset and development of the pathology. The curvature found in a child under 10 years old refers to early scoliosis.

According to Cobb, 4 degrees of scoliosis are distinguished, based on the angle of curvature of the spine - up to 10, 11–25, 26–50, more than 50 degrees

Why and when deformation occurs

Scoliosis, or lateral curvature of the spine, is a fairly common problem that occurs in school-age children. Visually, it looks like a skew in the line of the shoulders, shoulder blades or hips - one side is higher than the other. The disease is often associated with a rapid skeletal growth spurt between the ages of 10 and 15, while muscle corset the spine - its support - does not keep pace with the development of bones. All troubles are exacerbated by the need for schoolchildren to carry heavy briefcases, spend quite a long time in a motionless position at a desk in the classroom, sometimes the child experiences excessive or unbearable stress on the spine during active games or professional sports.

According to general statistics, today scoliosis is widespread throughout the world. Approximately 3 million new cases are diagnosed in the United States each year, with most of them being juvenile idiopathic scoliosis. Approximately 29,000 scoliosis surgeries are performed in the United States each year.

When doctors treat a twisted spine with bracing, traction, or surgery, they are not actually addressing the source of the problem. While the underlying cause of idiopathic scoliosis is unknown, progression of the disease occurs because the brain does not respond properly to gravity, causing the spine to become misaligned. In a non-scoliotic body, the brain responds to gravity by signaling the spine to straighten. In a person with a spinal deformity, the brain does not perceive gravity correctly and cannot send a message. When the back muscles are unable to maintain correct posture, the spine is formed abnormally - a curvature develops.

Proper scoliosis correction exercises can treat the underlying problem by retraining the brain to correct body position, and helping to return the spine back to its physiological and anatomical shape.

A lower incidence of scoliosis is typical today only for residents of third world countries on the continents of Africa or Asia. This is explained by the undeveloped education system, when the education of the general population does not exceed a few classes or is absent altogether.

The essence of exercise therapy exercises for children's scoliosis

The severity and cause of scoliosis are important factors that help determine the treatment plan. There are three main ways to approach the treatment of children with scoliosis:

observation and physical rehabilitation;
fixation (with the help of a corset, bandage);
spine surgery.

Physical rehabilitation for scoliosis patients takes many forms, with different approaches to treating the disorder. These may include exercises:

on breathing technique;
to strengthen simultaneously all the muscles of the back and trunk (symmetrical),
for balance training and balancing curves (asymmetric),
to develop posture (with a small load on the head) and retrain the brain and muscles.

Although they all have different purposes, most of these types of scoliosis exercises are voluntary, which means they are performed intentionally. On the other hand, involuntary movements occur when the body automatically moves in response to a specific stimulus. For example, movements such as carrying a wallet or wearing glasses become familiar to the brain.

Exercises for posture with a book on the head - effective in the initial stages of scoliosis

Because posture control is an involuntary habit, the only scoliosis exercises that can effectively halt progress include involuntary exercises to help the little patient form new postural habits.

Postural exercises - alignment of muscle imbalance by giving the body certain corrective postures and positions. These exercises play a preparatory role. They largely provide the effectiveness of basic physical exercises.

Involuntary exercises involve placing a small amount of weight on the head, trunk, or pelvis. Then the patient makes certain movements that help the brain to perceive a different center of balance within the body, which causes it to rebalance the position and realign the spine. This workout aims to:

stopping or slowing down progress;
reduction and stabilization of the existing degree of curvature;
improving functionality and cosmetic appearance;
eliminating the need for invasive fixation or surgery.

Posture training exercises work for all cases of scoliosis in patients, regardless of their age or curvature angle. In the same time best results can be achieved in children with a scoliosis angle below 30 degrees. With an early start of classes with the inclusion of involuntary exercises and the presence of a still “soft” scoliotic curve (less than 20 degrees Cobb), the scoliotic angle can decrease to less than 10 degrees. And more severe cases will most likely never progress to 30 degrees.

Video: moving with a book on your head (posture exercises)

Contraindicated activities

Each case of curvature of the spine consists of a set of incorrect positions, forming as a whole one wrong line. Scoliosis rarely occurs on its own, as a rule, it is accompanied by kyphosis or lordosis. If we focus on correcting one arc, then overall result will be unsatisfactory, because the remaining curvature will spoil the effect.

There are elements of exercise that are contraindicated for patients. You need to know about them. Contraindicated:

bending the chest in various directions - to the sides, forward, backward;
bending, turning the body (body);
long stay in any fixed position;
lifting weights with one hand;
performing exercises with a load on one leg (squats, lunges, etc.);
acrobatic elements (somersaults, bridge, birch, headstand and handstand, etc.);
making sudden movements, jerks;
activities with elements of running, jumping.

Children and adolescents with any degree of scoliosis are contraindicated gymnastics and dancing, during these sports, the spine is subjected to a high uneven load. Running with moderate curvature of the spine (1, 2 degrees) is allowed within reasonable limits. It is absolutely contraindicated only in case of rapid progression of the disease, and also if the disease has reached stage 3-4.

Indications and contraindications for exercise therapy

Effective exercises against scoliosis of the 1st and 2nd degree in children allow the spine to return to a healthy anatomical shape after 6 months. If the treatment of the pathology has not begun in a timely manner, then within a few years the angle of curvature may increase to 26 degrees or more, and the effectiveness of physical therapy will sharply decrease. In the presence of anatomical defects of the vertebrae, surgical treatment will be prescribed. However, modern medicine has the potential for early diagnosis of curvature of the spine in children.

If you start doing exercise therapy at the first stage of the disease, then after six months you can completely get rid of the deformation.

Like any therapy, the complex of therapeutic exercises recommended for scoliosis has its own indications and contraindications. Physical therapy (exercise therapy) will usually be shown to children in the following cases:

at the initial stages of curvature of the spine (including and when visually a non-professional does not determine any changes);
with ligamentous-muscular imbalance and violation of posture;
in cases of a tendency to develop curvature due to weakness of the spinal muscles.

The exercise therapy method is effective only in cases of functional changes in the spine. In the presence of deformation of the bone or cartilaginous tissues of the spinal column - physiotherapy will not be effective.

Gymnastics, no doubt, in many cases helps to significantly improve the condition of the children's spine, however, it is not shown to everyone and not always. For some comorbid conditions or illnesses, exercise can bring more benefits. potential harm than benefit. Exercise therapy is contraindicated in such cases:

with rapid progression of the disease;
in the presence of pain in the back;
during exacerbations of any chronic diseases (respiratory, supporting and other systems);
during the course of any acute infections in the body.

If the child is sick with an acute infection or the symptoms of a chronic disease of any organ or system have become more active, exercise therapy is temporarily contraindicated for such children. But it can be started after recovery. As a rule, within 1-2 weeks after the illness, the main indicators healthy body return to normal and you can start therapy with physical exercises.

There are no absolute contraindications to the correct therapeutic loads for practically healthy children. But any load should be controlled as much as possible and agreed with the pediatrician, surgeon, and other pediatric health professionals, if necessary.

Preparation

Some preparatory measures must be taken into account and observed before the start of the therapeutic and gymnastic complex. Because the proper preparation- this is already a significant part of the success and positive changes in the health of the child.

Preparation of the premises - a hall or an exercise therapy room in which therapeutic training must be ventilated and well ventilated. The air temperature is comfortable, not too high, within 17–20 °C for rooms where children are engaged, depending also on the climatic conditions outside the window.
Availability of the necessary equipment - you need to prepare in advance for the child a sports uniform made of natural or special modern "breathable" fabrics, as well as comfortable sports shoes. In no case should clothes hinder movement, squeeze any places on the body. And you also need to stock up on gymnastic equipment: a rug, fitball, gymnastic stick, etc. Sport equipment it can be provided in many rooms or halls for exercise therapy - it is better to check this information with your rehabilitation doctor.
Compliance with the diet and drinking - about 1.5–2 hours before class, the child should eat nutritiously and fairly densely. Children must have a bottle of drinking clean water with them to quench their thirst during and after the completion of a set of exercises.
Removing attention to personal hygiene - before starting exercise, it is recommended to take a warm shower. During physical activities the pores of the skin of the body and face open under the influence of increased heat load. And the skin can intensively absorb toxins and impurities present on the body.

The study area should be spacious and well ventilated.

Method of execution and stages of exercises

Begin classes with a light load, gradually making it heavier at each subsequent lesson, if there is no negative impact.

The main set of exercise therapy exercises is always based on three components:

Warm-up - during its implementation, it is necessary to pay attention to posture, for example, coming close to the wall, remember the position of the body (back) and head, take a few steps back and forth without changing posture. During the warm-up, you can smoothly rotate your shoulders, alternately pull up to the front of the body, legs bent at the knee joints. It is necessary to adjust your breathing by raising your arms and head up to the ceiling and taking a deep breath, then lowering them, making a smooth exhalation. It’s good to unload the spine at first, walking on all fours. In this position, the vertebrae experience a minimum load.
Basic exercises - are symmetrical, when both halves of the body are simultaneously involved, and asymmetric - one-sided. With the latter, you need to be extremely careful, they are performed exclusively under coaching control. In general, the elements of the exercises are performed in such positions so as not to overload the spinal column. In this sense, it is ideal to exercise lying down, as well as in the knee pose and its variations.
The final part is a gradual decrease in load, light muscle stretching exercises.

Gymnastics for the treatment of scoliosis at home - different complexes

At home, only simple exercises with minimal risk of injury

Each complex is developed taking into account the characteristics of the deformed spine of a particular child. They take into account the age category, the course of the disease, the stage, and find out if there are any associated health problems. Physical education for children is simple, the movements should be accessible for children of different ages to perform.

At 1 degree of scoliosis, a basic gymnastic complex, which is easy and safe to use at home. Its main part is symmetrical exercises, thanks to which the spinal muscles gain strength and tone.

Moving in a circle in a room, you need to do the following movements:

Raising and lowering your arms at the same time, breathe deeply and evenly (10 times).
Make smooth vertical and horizontal swings, alternating hands (15-20 times).
Rotate your shoulders forward and backward (10 times).
Shake your arms a little, relaxing them (10 times).
Bend your elbows, placing them in front of chest, do swings in a horizontal plane (20 times).
Keeping your hands on your belt, pointing your elbows back, you need to bring your shoulder blades together and raise your chin. Do this on your toes for 30 seconds.
Having fastened your hands with a “lock”, raise them above your head. Elbows - "look" to the sides, the neck with the back must be strained as much as possible so that the muscles are felt. In this position, walk on your heels in a circle.
Raise your arms and chin while taking a deep breath. Lowering your arms and head down, exhale completely.

Special children's therapeutic exercises at the first stage are designed to restore muscle elasticity. To do this, it is useful to perform the following exercises (repeat each exercise 10-15 times):

Gymnastics on the back (perform all movements in 5-10 sets of 10-15 seconds):

Lying horizontally on your back, clasp your hands above your head. Stretch the upper limbs in the direction from the head up, and the lower limbs in the opposite direction. Thus, you can feel how the spinal column is stretched.
IN lying position on the back, arms freely positioned parallel to the body. Raise both legs at an angle of 45 degrees above the floor, imitating movements similar to cycling.
The same initial pose as in exercise No. 2. Do cross swings with your legs without touching the floor surface.
Bending your knees, pull them as close to your forehead as possible. Try to keep your knees and forehead touching. The head does not move.

Gymnastics on the stomach (perform 5-10 sets of 10-15 seconds):

By doing home complex from scoliosis, attention should be paid to the fact that care must be taken not to damage the muscles and ligaments. Any additional activities directed against scoliosis in children, in addition to base complex should be coordinated with a competent physician to rule out serious complications. This is the only way to ensure effective treatment illness.

Possible consequences and complications of gymnastics

If parents miss the time of the initial stage of scoliosis in a child, after a few years from stage 1-2, the deformation can reach 3-4

To be sure of the maximum safety for the health of the child on physical therapy classes, parents must first visit an orthopedic doctor with the child. The doctor will conduct the necessary consultations. Self-compilation of the load program is excluded.

It is important to understand that children under 14 years of age are shown loads designed specifically for childhood, taking into account the strength and endurance of this category of guys.

If the child is too lazy to complete classes at home in full, then it is advisable for parents to take care of signing up for group or individual sessions in specialized groups at children's polyclinics. In such institutions, the orthopedic trainer knows how to interest and motivate the child. A doctor with medical education will check correct technique performance, which will improve the future result and, at the same time, eliminate the possibility of injury.

The constancy and regularity of visiting such classes are especially relevant in the initial stages of the disease and for the purpose of prevention. It is in this case that complete healing and a return to a healthy anatomical shape of the spine is possible. It is very important not to waste time. The indifferent attitude of parents to this problem in their child may result in an intensive progression of the deformity, which will eventually affect health. internal organs in the adult life of their children.

Violation of the technique of performing elements, prohibited exercises are fraught with an increase in the curvature of the back. The vertebral ligaments are designed to flex and extend the spine, while twisting or bending in different sides provoke subluxations of the vertebrae, imbalance, and are also dangerous for the occurrence of protrusions and hernias.

It would seem, how are squats related to the spine? It turns out that there is a connection: technically incorrectly squatting, overloading the lower part of the body, the child is in danger of squeezing the spine due to reflex compression of the spinal muscles.

Yoga

Yoga is based on exercises for stretching the spine, increasing the intervertebral distance and interdiscal space. Any yogic exercises should be carried out after the approval of your intentions by a competent medical practitioner - a specialist in pediatric orthopedics.

Children's yoga should be used primarily as a preventive measure.

It is useful to know that all sets of exercises in yoga are designed primarily for healthy people of different ages. That is, it makes sense to perform them for children only as a preventive measure. Here are some examples of exercises:

Boat. You need to sit down, bending your legs at the knee joints. Lean back, straighten your legs, raise at an angle of 45 degrees to the floor. Hands stretch forward, parallel to the floor, palms "look" down. The back and neck should merge into one line. Freeze in this position for 5-10 seconds. Repeat 4-5 times.
Exercise "boat" with a fitball - helps to maintain balance longer
Child. You need to kneel, buttocks touch the heels. Stretch your arms to the ceiling, and touch your knees with your chest, reach the floor with your forehead. Hold on in this position until you feel obvious discomfort. Do this 4-5 times.
Giant. Standing straight, legs apart at shoulder level, arms fastened together raise above your head, stretch towards the ceiling. Then gently bend to the sides, fixing the head and body on the same line. Do 7-10 times on each side.
Exercise "giant" is performed smoothly, without sharp jerks
Tree. Lying face down, simultaneously tear off the upper and lower limbs and stretch towards the ceiling.
Snake. Lying on your stomach, place your palms at shoulder level on the floor. Elbows almost touch the sides of the body. Slowly raise your shoulders and torso off the floor, working your back muscles. Bend as much as possible in the lower back and freeze like this for a few seconds. Slowly return to the starting position.
Exercise "snake" or "cobra" - for physically fit guys

When performing these exercises, you need to pay special attention to the correct breathing technique, which is set by a qualified instructor in children's yoga.