Nina Hebar
Zdravstveni dom dr. Adolfa Drolca Maribor Ulica talcev 9, 2000 Maribor, Slovenija

Mojca Švab Zavratnik
Pediatrija Šentilj, Šentilj v Slovenskih goricah, Slovenija

Abstract

Abnormalities of the musculoskeletal system are a great health problem and the prevalence among children is ris­ing. A paediatrician should strive to prevent abnormalities from occurring, search for any early changes and help with individual counselling both for parents and through edu­cational programmes in kindergartens and schools. Paedi­atricians should be actively searching for individuals with deformities at medical check-ups, which are performed from the first month of life throughout kindergarten and school. Abnormalities of the spine, lower extremities and poor posture are most commonly observed. Therefore the importance of physical activity and healthy lifestyle needs to be stressed. we have to consider children with a greater risk for musculoskeletal abnormalities that would require more frequent check-ups.

Key words: child development, musculoskeletal develop­ment, primary prevention, preventive medicine, health promotion