Postural hygiene at secondary school level: a preventive strategy through physical education

Abstract

The musculoskeletal health of adolescent students is an emerging priority in the contemporary educational context. Increased sedentary behavior, the digitalization of learning, and prolonged periods spent in awkward positions within the school environment have contributed to the early onset of postural problems and lower back pain at the secondary level. This essay analyzes postural hygiene as a preventive and educational approach within the context of school physical education, considering its biomechanical foundations, pedagogical implications, psychosocial dimension, and its role within the educational curriculum. It proposes that the organized integration of content related to postural education, such as initial assessment, strengthening of stabilizing muscles, joint mobility, compensatory stretching, and ergonomic guidelines, fosters the development of body awareness, helps prevent muscle imbalances, and promotes self-care practices among students. Similarly, it reflects on the teacher’s role as an educational agent and the need to incorporate the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders into educational planning. In this sense, it is argued that postural hygiene should be considered a cross-cutting component within Physical Education at the secondary level, contributing to the integral development of students and to the strengthening of school environments focused on physical and emotional well-being.