Posture and Laboratory work 1

The skeleton and muscles grow fast in childhood and adolescence; bone and muscle development are linked: stronger muscles mean stronger bones. A muscle that is exercised gets more blood, more oxygen and nutrients, and its fibres thicken; regular movement also benefits the heart, breathing and metabolism. But lifting more than a suitable load during growth can harm joints and the spine. Posture is the upright position a person is used to; it depends on the skeleton, especially the spine’s curves, and on muscle strength. In children the vertebrae are still growing and not fully hardened, and the curves are still forming, so sitting wrongly, carrying a heavy bag on one shoulder, a very soft bed and a high pillow can lead to curving (scoliosis). Good posture: head upright, shoulders level, chest free; if a curve is suspected, see a doctor. What matters for the body is the ability to move healthily, not only how it looks.