Lorna Taylor on Looking after our musculoskeletal health

Lorna Taylor is a Chartered Physiotherapist working within primary and early year’s settings and campaigner for improved musculoskeletal health, back health and good posture.

Through an understanding of human anatomy and movement and a genuine belief in the benefits of health education and injury prevention, Lorna created Jolly Back in 2009. Jolly Back provides practical and ergonomic solutions, backed up by trusted advice, for employers and employees working with young children.

Lorna set about creating her first product, the unique and revolutionary Jolly Back Chair after being unable to find a low, mobile chair that would adequately support staff. Since then, Jolly Back has won several education, design, and customer service awards; developed new products and solutions, and assessed others to support employees, employers and children with their back care and health needs.

In this interview, we discuss the health risks for teachers, Early Years practitioners, and educators when working at low heights with young children, both short term and long term. I was especially interested to find out why it was under-reported and what this means for the Early Years profession in general. We also discuss children’s bad back habits and how their health and education may be impacted by poor posture and lack of movement.