We have all, at one point or another, sat in amazement at the talents of some young child “prodigy”. Whether it be a young piano virtuoso or the latest young youtube sensation who can do things with his body most of us can only dream of doing.

Perhaps you have simply marvelled at the speed with which young children pick up languages or exclaimed something along the lines of “This kid’s brain is like a sponge!” We sit and wonder how it could be possible that these young kids have learnt so much and become so proficient at a particular activity (sometimes many activities) in such a short space of time. Well, the answer to your question is due to a phenomenon known as neuroplasticity. This term refers to the brain’s ability to form neural connections, allowing it to adapt to changes in circumstances throughout our lives. These connections are strengthened with repetition and, unless this strengthening and solidification occurs, these connections are easily lost. A young child’s neurological system is still developing and can be likened to a sculpter moulding a lump of clay into a piece of art. Research conducted in 2009 amongst youngsters learning to play an instument over a 29 month period showed significant size increases in the anterior midbody of the corpus callosum, a structure responsible for connecting motor areas of the left and right hemispheres of the brain, when compared to a control group of kids receiving no music training (Schlaug et al., 2009). This is a prime example of neuroplasticity. As we get older our brains become more “elastic” as we become more set in our ways and our neural pathways become more solid due to a lifetime of fortification through repetition (Ever heard the saying “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”?). This has its pros and cons. It’s positive in the sense that we don’t have to work as hard to maintain learned behaviours but it also means that “old habits die hard”. A prime example of this is posture.

Posture and co-ordination are due to a combination of reflex and cognitive sensori-motor control. That is to say we need both our conscious and subconscious mind to maintain our centre of gravity, both at rest and while performing complex tasks such as dancing or surfing. The level of cognitive contribution to posture and co-ordination depends on the complexity of the task being performed. The more complex or unfamiliar the task the more we rely on our senses, such as sight and touch, for balance and co-ordination. However, the more we perform a specific task the less our conscious mind contributes to that task and the more “reflexic” our performance of that task becomes. This phenomenon may be better known as muscle memory or motor memory (Schusterman, 2001) and in fact has less to do with our muscles and more to do with our joints. A phenomenon known as proprioception is our brains ability to know the exact position of our joints and the speed at which they are moving in all six degrees of movement without having to look at them and using this information to make fine corrections in order to maintain balance and centre of gravity via tiny muscular contractions. Proprioception has, on occasion, been labelled our body’s sixth sense and is much easier to develop in children due to their heightened level of neuroplasticity.

Central to good posture is the “core”. This is made up of three abdominal muscle groups, the deep muscles of the lumbar spine and a fibrous structure known as the the thoraco-lumbar fascia. The core is responsible for the transmission of forces in and around the abdomen and lower back. It also acts as a bridge between the arms and the legs. The importance of good core function becomes clear as we consider the human frame, a top heavy rib-cage and shoulder girdle supported on a spindly lumbar spine. The core is activated to brace the lumbar spine and control its movement in all kinds of dynamic activity. Perhaps the most important aspect of a healthy core is the fact that it is activated reflexively and is not under conscious control. A core training program should include activities that not only target specific core muscles but also complex, dynamic movements that engage the core as a whole.

So we see that good core function is synonymous with good motor control/posture and vital for spinal health. Motor control has been shown to be directly related to the level of physical activity in young children, with motor co-ordination increasing as time spent engaged in moderate-to-vigorous activity increases. Children with a higher BMI were also shown to lead more sedentary lifestyles and thus displayed lower levels of motor proficiency (Wrotniak et al., 2006). Furthermore, children with low levels of motor development have been shown to be at increased risk of delays in cognitive development, particularly in the areas of memory and processing speed (Piek et al., 2008). I have seen numerous children (and adults)in my practice with slumped and rounded shoulders, heads protruding forward like a tortoise poking his head out of his shell. Could this be related to our society’s general decrease in physical activity and increased time spent hunched over a laptop or cell phone with our arms stretched out in front of us, our heads bowed low and our cores inactive? The research would suggest that it does.

Now that some of the science of good posture has been dealt with, let’s talk about some of the more relevant features. Posture is defined as the position we hold our bodies in while seated, standing, lying down or in dynamic movement and it is controlled by numerous muscles, tendons and ligaments and as mentioned previously is largely reflexic. The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) lists some benefits of good posture:

• Helps maintain joint alignment, preventing abnormal wearing of joint surfaces, which leads to degenerative joint diseases such as Osteoarthritis.

• Reduces the strain on the ligaments holding spinal joints together

• Allows efficient muscle function, thereby reducing the likelihood of fatigue

• Helps prevent back and muscle pain due to muscle strains and overuse injuries

Poor posture is common and in most cases is correctable by addressing one or more of the following issues. Inactivity, time spent hunched over a desk or sitting on a cellphone or tablet, carrying bags that are too heavy or incorrectly configured can all lead to poor posture. As I have touched on already, poor posture can have a variety of negative effects on one’s confidence and self-image as well as their health by causing problems in bone growth, neurological development, backpain, neck pain, headaches, lethargy and asthma to name a few.

Perhaps the most obvious effect of poor posture though, is its effect on spinal health. The ACA has listed some interesting facts about back pain and its effect on the economy:

• Low back pain is the single greatest contributor to disability world-wide and is one of the most common reasons for missing work

• Back Pain is the second most common reason for doctors’ visits, outnumbered only by upper respiratory tract infections

• Every year 50 percent of the work-force admit to having back pain

• Approximately 80 percent of adults will experience back pain at some point in their lives

• Most cases of back pain are considered mechanical or non-organic

• Americans spend around $50 billion annually on back pain alone

Now whilst these stats pertain mostly to America it should be clear that, if for no other reason than for its effect on back pain, posture is something worth addressing . In this modern era of tablets and gaming devices where children are becoming more and more sedentary, engaging them in education about posture and in exercise programs, which include fun activities that focus on developing motor skills and target the core muscles is to be considered extremely beneficial to their development and well-being, both in their short-term and long-term health.

If you or your child struggle with poor posture, feel free to get in touch with me to make an appointment and find out how Chiropractic can help your posture.

Written by:

Dr Thornton Vivier

Chiropractor

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References

"Back Pain Facts And Statistics". Acatoday.org. N.p., 2016. Web. 10 Oct. 2016.

Piek, Jan P. et al. "The Role Of Early Fine And Gross Motor Development On Later Motor And Cognitive Ability". Human Movement Science 27.5 (2008): 668-681. Web. 6 Oct. 2016.

Schlaug, Gottfried et al. "Training-Induced Neuroplasticity In Young Children". Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1169.1 (2009): 205-208. Web. 6 Oct. 2016.

Shusterman, Richard. "Muscle Memory And The Somaesthetic Pathologies Of Everyday Life". Human Movement 12.1 (2011): n. pag. Web. 6 Oct. 2016.

Wrotniak, B. H. et al. "The Relationship Between Motor Proficiency And Physical Activity In Children". PEDIATRICS 118.6 (2006): e1758-e1765. Web. 6 Oct. 2016.