Back to School

The summer always goes by faster than many of us want it to, but like it or not, school is just around the corner. And after the ups and downs of the last school year, it’s important to be prepared. That means more than just having the right school supplies, but also looking out for your health as families get ready to head back to school.

After a year where a lot of kids were planted at home with remote learning – either full-time or part-time – this year’s first week of school is going to take some adjustment. It won’t be just students. Teachers and parents will also be getting back to the old routine, and that means making sure you’re set up for success.

Whether they’re looking forward to getting back to school or not, kids can face some alignment issues before they even get to the classroom. Backpacks can cause more problems than just too much homework. From the way they’re worn, to being over worked, backpacks can cause back pain and other issues if they’re not addressed.

Try and find a backpack with two, wide straps. The wider straps spread out the load, and keep the circulation flowing. It’s also important to use both straps. Having just one strap slung over your shoulder causes compensation by the body to one side. That can affect your spinal alignment and can lead to everything from a strained shoulder to scoliosis.

But kids aren’t the only ones getting back into the groove. A lot of teachers spent at least part of last year away from the classroom while instructing their students digitally. Whether working from home was more comfortable or not, many teachers are going to back to the head of the class again this fall. That means more standing, walking and writing on whiteboards than their bodies have grown accustomed to.

The physical aspects of teaching in front of a class can be pretty demanding – especially for elementary teachers. Low-back pain in elementary teachers is a common complaint, and it’s not difficult to figure out why. Sitting, then standing, stooping and bending, hunching to grade papers and picking things up off the floor are all common daily occurrences – and not just in the lower grades.

Chiropractic care can certainly help treat back pain, but making sure the spine is in proper alignment before the first bell rings can put teachers ahead of the curve. And that’s going to be more important than ever this year, because teachers are getting used to the return to the classroom just as much as the children are.

Pediatric chiropractic care can make sure that any underlying issues from things like carrying a backpack that’s too heavy. But it’s also important to get things checked out beforehand. Preventative care is the best kind of care, and ensuring a properly aligned spine can set kids up for success – especially when they’re getting back in the swing of the new schedule. 

For more information on how to get your health set up for success entering the new school year, contact Dr. Morgan Sheridan at Foundation Chiropractic today.