Back to School: Is Chiropractic on Your Back-to-School List?

With the summer fun season transitioning into another exciting year of school for your children, you have lots to think about. There are supplies to buy, classes to register for, and teachers to meet. Is chiropractic care on your list of things to do?

 

Your child’s spine and nervous system are still developing at a quick pace, and stress is the number one harm to that system. This stress can come in many forms, from being in rooms full of people again, sports pressures and physical impact, to heavy book bags and germ exposures. We have the tips to make their return to school life easier to handle.

 

1. Focus on the Book bag

When choosing a book bag for your child, it is just as important to pick one with proper support and durable materials as it is to seek style. In many cases, the trends of today can lead to spinal issues later. Having a backpack that supports your child’s body will save them issues in the future of spinal pain and dysfunction.

 

Find a book bag with padded straps that go over your child’s shoulder, along with making sure they wear it on both shoulders. One of the most common causes of issues with wearing backpacks in children is wearing only one shoulder strap. If the bag has a chest and/or waist clip, those should both be fastened as well. The straps should be tightened so that it does not go lower than their hips. The biggest objects in the bag should be closest to their body. Lastly, the bag should not exceed 10% of their weight, meaning a 100-pound child should not have a bag weighing more than 10 pounds.

 

2. Nutrition is a Must

If you pack your child’s lunches, make sure they are getting a well-rounded diet every day. Make sure to base the meal around a healthy serving of lean protein such as chicken, turkey, lean beef, lamb, salmon, or pork to help their developing muscles. Also, be sure to pack at least 1-2 servings of fruits and vegetables. A good combination is apples or celery with peanut butter. This will help them get fruits, vegetables, protein, and healthy fats. Avoid putting fried foods or desserts in your child’s lunches on a consistent basis as this can contribute to childhood obesity and many health issues in the future.

 

Hydration is also key. Your child should be drinking, on average, no less than eight 8oz cups of fluid while at school each and every day!

 

If your child eats the school’s lunches, make sure to check in regularly to see what is being served, and in what amounts. As a parent, it is always your right to see what your children are being fed, and to place your input to the school.

 

3. Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic treatments directly affect your child’s nervous system, which is the master control system for your brain, heart, lungs, immune system, and stress response centers. Being regularly adjustment has been proven to boost immunity, improve mood and sleep, reduce pain, and encourage healthy growth.

Contact us today to get this school year started on the right foot!