Movement as the foundation of health – why children need it more than ever

Physical activity for children is becoming less and less a natural part of everyday life, and more and more an addition to the schedule between school, extracurricular activities, and screens. In conversation, Jan Lipski, a physical therapist who works with children on a daily basis, looked at movement not as a sporting obligation, but as a fundamental element of physical, emotional, and social health. This is a conversation about developmental windows, overload, pain, motivation, and why a parent's example is more important than the best sports school.

In this article, we discuss, among other things:

• Children today engage in significantly less spontaneous physical activity than previous generations.

• rapid growth reveals so-called developmental windows, during which the body needs special stimulation

• Pain in the heels, knees, and spine in children is often caused by a lack of physical activity or poorly chosen activities.

• Not every sport and not every workout is good for every child.

• Movement affects not only the body, but also emotions, self-confidence, and social relationships.

• A physical therapist can act as a "technical inspector" for a child, not just a therapist.

• The example set by an active parent is crucial for a child's habits.

From the very beginning of the conversation, Jan Lipski emphasizes that, paradoxically, his great love for sport grew out of a difficult start in life. Low muscle tone, difficult first months after birth, and health problems made movement a form of compensation and a way to build agency for him. Over time, physical activity turned into a passion, and later into a profession—physiotherapy based on movement therapy and mindfulness.

Developmental windows and pains that must not be ignored

One of the key topics of discussion is the so-called growth spurts, which are particularly noticeable between the ages of 10 and 14. This is a period of very dynamic growth, during which bones often "grow faster" than muscles, tendons, and the nervous system are able to adapt. This can result in coordination problems, clumsiness, and pain in the heels, knees, or spine, even in children who do not have any chronic diseases.

Jan Lipski points out that in such situations, insoles, changing shoes, or further medical consultations are not always the solution. Sometimes, something much simpler proves to be the key: proper stretching, working on range of motion, and calm, regular activity such as yoga or general exercise. At the same time, he emphasizes that not every movement has a therapeutic effect—the wrong activity can exacerbate the symptoms, which is why it is so important to assess each child individually.

Spontaneous movement versus scheduled activities

The conversation starkly contrasts two worlds: childhood from years ago and the reality of today's children. Spontaneous movement—running around the yard, climbing, unstructured play—has been largely replaced by organized activities. Although sports clubs are not a problem in themselves, they often lack the most important thing: daily, natural movement without the pressure to perform.

Jan Lipski notes that parents often invest in equipment and specific disciplines before their child has even had a chance to see whether a particular form of exercise appeals to them. However, the goal should not be to raise an athlete, but to find any activity that brings joy to the child and engages their body. Sometimes, individual or playful movement is a better start, with group activities coming later.

Movement, emotions, and social skills

Physical activity is important not only for muscles and joints, but also for the psyche. Fitness builds self-confidence, facilitates functioning in a peer group, and helps regulate emotions—especially during adolescence. Jan Lipski points out that sport can be a safe "outlet" for difficult emotions, which otherwise may find expression in aggression or excessive use of social media.

Team sports also teach cooperation, losing, and winning—skills that are increasingly proving to be more important in adult life than technical skills alone. It is these skills that enable people to find their place in teamwork and social relationships.

The role of the physical therapist and parental responsibility

The conversation clearly highlights the role of the physical therapist not only as a "pain specialist," but also as a specialist who can perform a kind of check-up on a child. Functional assessment, injury risk tests, observation of movement technique—all of this allows for early detection of overuse and prevention of more serious problems, especially in children who regularly participate in sports.

At the same time, Jan Lipski emphasizes that the most important motivator for a child is... an adult. If a parent is not active themselves, it is difficult to expect a child to consider exercise a natural part of life. Physical activity should be part of "everyday hygiene," not an add-on inferior to foreign languages or music.

At the end of the conversation, an important thought is expressed: muscle quality and strength have a real impact on the length and quality of life. Movement is not a luxury or an obligation—it is a biological human need. And the earlier a child learns this, the easier it will be for them to return to it in adulthood.