Why is posture and seating important for children?
Are they sitting comfortably?
Good postural control is fundamental to supporting and enhancing children’s development. From infancy through to adolescence, a stable posture provides a solid foundation for developing motor skills, reducing pain, minimising the risk of further deformities, and fostering greater interaction with their surroundings. In turn, enabling them to be active participants in play, learning, socialisation and activities of daily living.Children are in a phase of rapid growth and development, and maintaining proper alignment helps support their evolving musculoskeletal system.
Postural support is particularly important for children with neurological impairment, altered muscle tone or orthopaedic conditions as they have reduced ability to hold an upright position against gravity without
assistance. This can affect their ability to perform motor tasks, engage in daily activities, and impact their emotional wellbeing.
For children with physical disabilities that limit or prevent independent movement or standing, the amount of time spent sitting tends to increase significantly. Therefore, it’s crucial to provide proper support during these extended sitting periods to prevent the negative effects of poor posture, while also promoting independence and supporting their developmental growth. When assessing a child’s seating needs, the plan should be personalised and comprehensive, addressing their postural, pressure care, comfort and functional requirements to achieve the optimal seating position.
Imagine sitting on a yoga ball that someone is shaking while asking you to write a letter. This would be
extremely challenging, as you’d have less control over your arms, hands, and your head position would be
unstable, making it difficult to focus on and see the paper. If you continued, it would likely become tiring
and frustrating.
Now, picture that help arrives: the yoga ball is held still, and someone supports your head, upper body, hips, and lower limbs in a stable position. This support would allow you to stabilise your posture, regain control over your extremities, and improve your motor control, making it much easier to write the letter.
Children need to have the right support at the right time
What is ‘good’ and ‘bad’ sitting posture in children?
By around 8-10 months of age, a growing infant shows improved sitting posture, characterised by:
- Alignment of the pelvis and spine
- Balanced head positioned above the hips
- Even weight distribution through both hips (ischial tuberosities)
- Hands are free to explore and engage with their surroundings
‘Good’ Posture: The Gold standard
You may frequently hear about the 90-90-90 posture, which refers to achieving a90-degree angle at the hips, knees, and ankles whilst seated. This posture is believed to provide optimal pressure distribution and stability. While this is an ideal to strive for, it’s important to understand that some children may struggle to
achieve it due to postural issues like high muscle tone or restricted movement. In such cases, specialist seating solutions are needed to either correct or accommodate these challenges.
‘Bad’ Posture
Incorrect posture occurs when the body is not in a neutral, balanced position, leading to misalignment or asymmetry. This abnormal body state prevents the body from maintaining stability.
Benefits of good posture for children
Functional Ability:
Good posture enables children to perform daily activities like eating, dressing, playing, and learning with greater ease and efficiency.
Motor Skill development:
A stable base of support provided by good posture is essential for developing fine motor skills like hand manipulation and coordination.
Confidence and Self-Esteem:
A child who has difficulty maintaining good posture may feel selfconscious, particularly as they get older and interact more with their peers. Postural support can help these children sit with greater confidence, enabling them to focus on what’s most important: learning, playing, and socialising- without the distraction of worrying about their body’s position.
Cognitive Engagement:
Being able to maintain a stable posture can enhance a child’s focus and attention during activities, improving cognitive engagement.
Pain Reduction:
Maintaining proper alignment can minimise muscle strain and discomfort, improving a child’s quality of life. Many children, especially those with physical or neurological challenges, may experience discomfort or even pain due to poor posture. Without the right support, a child might develop pressure sores, muscle fatigue, or discomfort that can affect their mood and behaviour
Preventing Future Complications:
In some cases, deterioration of posture can be critical, airways may become compromised, leading to dangerous infections like pneumonia. Additionally, poor postural care can cause the body shape to deteriorate, which in turn can result in further health problems as organs may become distorted, causing
more pain and discomfort. THINK: RIGHT SUPPORT AT THE RIGHT TIME…
What can we do to support children’s postural needs?
Specialist postural support plays a vital role in supporting posture, especially for children who face challenges in maintaining a neutral, balanced position. By offering tailored support to meet the child’s unique needs, specialist support can help improve alignment, stability, and comfort. Whether the child has physical disabilities, muscle tone issues, or limited range of movement, these seating solutions are designed to provide the necessary support to encourage good posture, reduce discomfort, and enhance overall functionality
Preventative Care:
Early intervention with effective positioning can help prevent secondary complications like contractures, scoliosis, kyphosis and pressure sores that can develop due to prolonged poor posture
Thinking Ahead:
Where possible a child’s seating system should be adaptable to grow with them and have the adaptability to adjust as their postural needs change over time. Using a modular system and adopting a future-proofing approach to seating can greatly benefit the child. For instance, it allows healthcare professions to respond more efficiently to changes by adjusting the existing system, streamlining care pathways. This approach helps prevent ‘crisis point’, where poor posture could lead to greater complications if left unsupported for too long.
Frequently used strategies to support posture…
Tilt in space:
Can prevent sliding out of seating, improve functional ability, reduce fatigue and assist with trunk and head
control.
Lateral Supports:
Help to stabilise the trunk. They can be used to correct leaning or accommodate fixed presentations, preventing them from getting worse.
Cushions:
Cushions that provide postural support can be crucial to correct or accommodate certain postural presentations, such as wind sweeping, pelvic obliquities and posterior pelvic tilts.
Accessories:
Belts, harnesses, head supports and foot straps are just a few accessories that are used to correct and support children’s postural needs.
Backrests:
Certain backrests may have built in lateral support to support the trunk. Other backrests can also provide modular, tailored contoured shaping to accommodate the curvature of a child’s spine, increasing surface area contact.
Good posture is essential for children and their overall development, physically, psychologically and cognitively. There are many forms of postural support available to achieve the best outcome for a child that may have postural difficulties. The important thing is to assess with the child at the centre and consider their holistic needs to achieve the best outcome.
