MEDICAL.

Hutt News, Volume 2, Issue 36, 13 February 1930, Page 12

MEDICAL.

HOW TO CURE ROUND

SHOULDEES.

Bound shoulders in a child (writes "A Woman Doctor" in the L.oudon Daily Express), are produced as the result of too rapid growing of the long bones, where the muscles^ aue not keeping pace wit-h them. They are com; mon in tall, thin children, and, in addition to being unsightly" in appearance they tend1 to produce a flat, narrow chest, with impaired breathing power.

It is important,, tp begin early correction of the deformity. Sloping shoiilders should not be left to be grown out/ of, as some parents think. They rarely improve if left .untreated. With- a few months' exercises) massage, and • appropriate- rest* a tremendous improvement can be produced in pronounced 'cases. There are eight important muscles round the shoulder joint, ' which "one j must aim at developing to their full extent, The exercises themselves which are necesstrry to do this are simple. Number I—with the head kept well erect teach the child to raise both arms first forwards, then upwards, sideways, and finally downwards; Perform the whole movement slowly, and rejpeat :15: to 20 times. Number 2 —Circle the arms rapidly forwards, upwards, backwards and downward 10 times. Number B—Repeat the last movement but in the reverse direction. These exercises must be carried, out twice a day. If the little patient finds them too strenuous at first massage can be substituted. Half an hour's rubbing of the arms, chest, shoulders and back with olive oil twice a day is sufficient. Deep breathing should be practised Tegularly many times before an open window. . . Never- allow- a child with round shoulders to slouch in a chair. When lessons aTe being done, see that the desk is of the correct height to allow writing comfortably without the need for stooping forward. Chairs with good, straight backs should be used. Best during the day is essential. Two hours spent by the child lying flat on his back is the ideal to aim at. A firm couch or mattress with, no pillow. is the best to use. At night allow one flat pillow, and later, when the child has got accustomed to sleeping with the. head low, try removing it altogether. . In bad cases straps may be necessary for a time to keep the shoidders straight. Milk, butter, cream, cheese and. eggs are all excellent articles to include in the diet sheet to form firm flesh and bone. Allow also a generous portion of "meat and fish. ' .. •