Back-to-School, How to Protect Your Child’s Spine This Term
With the new school year approaching, the mad dash to get new shoes, uniforms and rucksacks is well underway. While kids are busy with books, sports, and screen time, it can be easy to overlook one important thing, the spinal health of children and teens. From heavy backpacks to long hours sitting in class, the school routine can take a toll on young spines. Here’s how to keep your child’s back healthy, strong, and pain-free this term.
The Backpack Problem
The spines of children are still developing so can be vulnerable to strain or injury. When a rucksack is too heavy children may lean forward or arch their back to compensate, altering the natural alignment of the spine. This can accumulate over time and create muscle imbalances, and ultimately poor posture.
The Spine Health Foundation recommends that the rucksacks do not weigh more than 10% of the child’s weight, that shoulder straps are padded and worn on both shoulders, and that items are distributed evenly over several pockets rather than loading everything into the main pocket.
Posture in the Classroom & at Home
Long hours sitting at desks can lead to slouching and rounded shoulders. With the ever-growing use of technology, prolonged screen time can also lead poor posture, and ultimately pain in the musculoskeletal system. Since technology and screen time are here to stay, we need to protect our bodies by building healthy habits — taking regular movement breaks, stretching often, and setting up desks and screens at the right height.
Spotting the Signs of Trouble
Kids don’t always know how to tell us when something feels off, but there are signs parents can watch for. Headaches after school, complaints of back, neck, or shoulder aches, or even uneven posture such as one shoulder sitting higher than the other, can all signal that their spine may be under extra strain. Sometimes these issues can also affect your child’s ability to concentrate in class, making learning more difficult. Catching these signs early and acting helps protect your child’s long-term spinal health and keeps them feeling and performing at their best.
How Chiropractic Can Help
Gentle chiropractic care helps support healthy spinal alignment during these busy years, easing postural stress, improving mobility, and helping to prevent recurring aches and pains. Every adjustment is safe, gentle, and tailored to a child’s age, giving parents confidence that their child is getting the right support to stay healthy, comfortable, and ready to learn.
A healthy spine helps kids focus, play, and learn at their best. As you get ready for the new school year, take a few simple steps to protect your child’s back and if you’re concerned about posture, pain, or mobility, our team at Abacus Chiropractic Clinic is here to help.
👉 Book a back-to-school posture check today!
All images courtesy of The Spine Health Foundation https://spinehealth.org/article/backpacks-back-pain-children/