POSTURAL DEFORMITIES

 Overview

Correct posture means the balancing of the body in an accurate and proper manner while sitting, reading, standing, writing or during any other action of the body. Posture is actually dynamic and changes according to the activities being performed. The body weight should be equally distributed over both the legs and feet as to produce less fatigue.

Postural deformities are the deformities in the skeletal system of the body that cause improper posture. It can lead to pain in various body parts and sometimes, even become a hindrance in one's growth. There are a number of people who suffer from these deformities, but they don't even know about that due to lack of knowledge. Most people don't even know that problems like this exist. 

Various types of postural deformities are stated below.

1.Kyphosis

Kyphosis implies an increase of the posterior curve. In this the vertebral column loses its original shape and gets almost straightened. In this the person develops a round upper back. Depression of chest is common in kyphosis.

Causes

It is mainly caused by malnutrition, deficiency of pure air, insufficient exercise,rickets, carrying heavy loads on shoulders, unsuitable furniture, weak muscles, shyness among girls and habit of doing work by leaning forward.

Remedies

Following exercises should be performed for the remedy of kyphosis.

1.Sit in a chair, your buttocks should touch the back of the chair. By looking upward, hold your hands behind the back in such a way that your shoulders stretch backward. Remain in this position for 7 seconds and then return to the beginning position. Do it at least 30 times a day.

2. Lie down in a front lying position(front towards the floor). Keep your hands near your shoulders. Now raise your chest and straighten up your arms slowly while keeping the head back. Maintain this position for 5 seconds and return to a normal lying position. 

3. Perform dhanurasana daily.

4. Keep a pillow under your back while sleeping.

5. Bend your head backward in standing position.

2. Flat Foot

Our feet act as a base of support for the body in standing, walking, running, jumping and performing almost every dynamic activity. Flat foot deformity is commonly found in newborn babies but it becomes a postural deformity if it still persists during lateral childhood. Such children face problems in standing, walking and running. They even feel pain in their feet.

It is very easy to observe if a person has a flat foot or not. Just dip your feet in water and walk on the floor if the proper arch of the footprint is missing, then you have a flat foot.

Causes

Flat foot is mainly caused due to weak foot muscles as they cannot bear the body weight. Hence feet become flat or without arches. Rapid increase in body weight, improper shoes, carrying heavy weight for a long period of time can also cause flat feet.

Remedies

The following exercises should be performed on a regular basis to rectify or treat this deformity.

1.Walk on heels.

2. Walk on the inner or outer side of feet.

3. Perform up and down on heels.

4. Walk on toes

5. Skip rope

6. Jump on toes

7. Perform vajrasana daily.

3. Lordosis

Lordosis is the inward curvature of the spine. It can also be defined as an increased forward curve in the lumbar region of the spine. It creates hindrance in standing and walking. The body seems to be stiff.

Causes

Improper development of muscles, insufficient exercise, obesity,disease in the vertebral column, Imbalanced diet and an improper environment are some common causes of lordosis.

Remedies

For treatment of lordosis certain remedies must be performed.

1.From a standing position, bend forward on hip level. Maintain this position for 10 seconds and then return to normal standing position. Repeat this 10 times daily.

2. Perform sit ups regularly

3. Sit down on the floor and extend your legs forward. Try to touch your forehead to your knees. Repeat this exercise for 10 times.

4. Halansa should be performed.

5. Lie on your back and raise your hands and legs simultaneously 10 times.

4. Knock Knees

Knock knees id one of the major and most common postural deformities found in children. In this, both the knees knock or touch each other in a normal standing position. The gap between the ankles goes on increasing. The individual faces difficulty in walking and running. They cannot run or walk in a proper manner.

Causes

Lack of calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D from the diet is a major cause of knock knees. It may be also due to rickets. Chronic illness, obesity, flat foot and carrying healing weight in early age may be other possible reasons for knock knees.

Remedies

To rectify knock knees, the following points should be taken into consideration.

1.Horse riding is the best exercise for rectification of this deformity.

2. Keep a pillow between the knees and stand erect for some time.

3. Perform padmasana and gamukhaansa regularly.

4. Keep a pillow between your knees while going to bed at night.

5. Use of waling calipers may also be beneficial.

5. Scoliosis

In scoliosis the spine bends or twists sideways. Postural adaptation of the spine in lateral direction occurs in this deformity. The spine can be curved in left side or side side or maybe in S shape.

Causes

Diseases in the joints of bones, underdeveloped legs,infantile paralysis, rickets,carrying heavy loads on one shoulder, improper furniture are main causes of scoliosis. It may also be caused by congenital or acquired abnormalities of vertebrae, muscles or nerves.

Remedies

Perform following exercises for remedy

1.Bending exercise should be performed on the opposite side of the C shaped curve.

2. Hang on a horizontal bar for some time.

3. Hand on a horizontal bar with your hands and swing your body to the left and right.

4. Swim using breaststroke technique.

6. Bow Legs

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 basically knees are widely apart. It is the opposite of knock knees in most cases. It causes problems in walking and running.

Causes

Deficiency of calcium and phosphorus males the long bones weak and soft, hence they bend outward. Obesity, deficiency of vitamin D, improper way of walking or forcing babies to walk at an early age may lead to bow legs.

Remedies

The following measures should be taken for rectification of this deformity.

1.Vitamin D, calcium and phosphorus must be taken in the right amounts in the diet.

2. Walk on inner edges of feet.

3. Walking by bending toes inward.

7. Round Shoulder

In this postural deformity the shoulders become round and seem to be bent forward.

Causes

It might be due to heredity, sitting, standing and walking in a bent position, improper furniture, lack of proper exercise and wearing very tight clothes.

Remedies

Following exercises must be performed for rectification of round shoulder.

1. Perform chakrasana and dhanurasana.

2. Hang on a horizontal bar for some time.

3. Keep your tips of fingers on your shoulders and encircle your elbows in clockwise and anticlockwise directions.

Conclusion

Basically postural deformities can be cured by doing various physical exercises. The role of physical activities in functional deformities is very effective during elementary school years. Most children don't even know that they are suffering from this until it's late and they need surgery for treatment. We all should have knowledge about these deformities so that we can at least help someone.

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