My son won't stand up straight.

[manchestermafia]

My son is 13.  2 years ago he started to hunch over.  I am always telling him to stand up straight.  His shoulders are now rounded.  He goes to a chiropractor for adjustments, but I need more.  I was thinking of PT to help relax the muscles and give him some exercises.  Anyone in the same boat or have any suggestions?  He is only 77 lbs. and the bones in his back now stick out because he doesn't stand up straight.  His back is in a "C" position when he sits.  He won't sit up straight either.  Help, please!

[wanderinggypsy]

Hi. I really suggest taking your son to a physiotherapist. A licensed physiotherapist will work with your son to strengthen his muscles to the point where his natural stance is more upright and squared. This will prevent all kinds of back trouble down the road. Chiros are great I find for some things but ultimately you need the musculature to hold that framework in place, and if the muscles aren't strong enough then the skeletal structure is going to just fall back where it wants to be. 

Best of luck. And by the way, my oldest son is the same age and weight as yours!

[BellinghamCrunchie]

Has his pediatrician evaluated him for scoliosis? That might be worth taking a look at. My brother's first indicator was rounded shoulders at age 13, and my mother was constantly tell him to sit up straight (didn't help).

[flightgoddess]

Also, has your chiro evalulated his leg lenghths? One might be shorter than the other...I was 'boarderline' possible scoliosis at that age, but they didn't do anything about it, since it was so mild. I find out at age 22 I have one leg shorter than the other. I'm not growing anymore so the slight curve I do have won't go away, but I do wear a lift now, and it helps with other joints (knee, pelvis, etc)

BUt also get a second opinion about scoliosis. Now is the time to start any therapies/adjustments/braces, when he will be growing so much and more 'maleable'

[purplerose]

My daughter was 5'9" at 13 and was misdiagnosed as having scoliosis...she went through PT and it turned out...basically her hip bone was turned the wrong way, causing her hamstring on one leg to be shorter. The PTist turned her hip to where it should be and had her work on some exercises to strengthen her hamstring. Her walk and posture is very noticably different, even that very same day! Does your son's back hurt when he walks alot?

The way she was misdiagnosed as having scoliosis was that the tech did not have her stand straight. They just x-rayed her slouching as normal. When the report came back that she had it and they sent her to the specialists, the specialist did his own x-rays and made her stand certain ways...no scoliosis! I'm really glad he did his own x-rays and the PT was wonderful with her. Her back pain is gone and the slouching's not bad, at this point it's just habit. Plus the being tall...My other tall daughter doesn't slouch but she feels she is model material lol