How important is sitting ergonomics for children’s health?

The first years of life have a crucial influence on the development of the spine. Especially during the period when children are growing rapidly, which includes the school years, the ergonomics of sitting can have a significant impact on the health of a child’s spine.

Poor posture in early childhood and adolescence, improper diet, heavy school bags and lack of physical activity can have extremely negative effects on the proper development of the musculoskeletal system. A spine that is poorly shaped in childhood can lead to problems in adulthood. So give your children the chance to develop in a healthy way. Capture the years that determine the health of their spine and give them the opportunity to maintain and develop a healthy spine with Spinalis office chairs.

Negative consequences of poor posture

Sitting ergonomics are very important for children’s health. Posture develops during adolescence, and inappropriate postural reflexes can develop, which can be permanent. A child with poor posture may develop and grow into an adult with poor posture. Later on, he or she will move and maintain balance with increasing muscular effort, resulting in faster fatigue, reduced productivity, and faster ageing of the tissue.

Learn about dynamic sitting

Poor posture is often the result of muscles not working properly or not working properly enough. These consequences can be corrected with discipline and will. This is how the idea of a chair with a moving seat that allows active sitting was born. Spinalis chairs combine active and relaxed sitting and thus allow for dynamic sitting. This activates the back and abdominal muscles, encourages continuous activity and relieves the pressure on the discs between the vertebrae. In this way, spinal pain is effectively eliminated and physical fitness is improved.

Spinalis Basic office chairs are suitable for children because they have an extra leg ring that allows children to sit optimally, whether it’s during play or while doing homework. These Basic chairs also have the advantage that children do not outgrow them as quickly. The height-adjustable seat and removable ring are already suitable for first-graders. Once the child is of a size to place his/her feet flat on the floor, the ring can be removed. And the adjustable backrest and armrests, as well as the height adjustment, allow the chair to grow practically with the child. The chair will thus be able to accompany your child throughout adolescence.

The experts are also clear

Spinalis chairs are also recommended for children by experts in fields ranging from orthopaedics and physiotherapy to psychology. They believe that Spinalis chairs have several positive effects on correct posture, but also from a psychological point of view, they help children to do their school work better and to be more focused when studying. Experts stress the importance of active sitting to strengthen muscles in combination with children’s freedom of movement. Spinalis gives children the opportunity to move in a different way than they are used to in conventional chairs. It gives them the opportunity to move from play to more serious school work in a fun way.

Spinalis has partnered with a school in Ljubljana to implement the “Spine Friendly School” project. The study lasted for five years, from 2006 to 2011, during which time two classes were monitored. While one classroom had Spinalis chairs for sitting and working in school, the other classroom had regular school chairs. Physiotherapists and orthopaedists and psychologists checked posture, back muscle strength, the condition of the children’s spines and their academic performance on an annual basis. They also monitored children’s concentration in their school work using videos.

After just five years, they found clear differences in the development of the children’s back muscles, abdominal muscles and posture. Children who sat on Spinalis chairs had more developed muscles, better posture and better academic performance. Thus, it was found that children also need to be active when sitting down.

Children who already have or have tried Spinalis chairs also call them rocking horses. Give your children fun activities to do at school and keep them healthy too. Make sitting like a ride at an amusement park, bringing joy and positive effects on health and posture.