For kids, September means getting back into the swing of the school year. Often times, that means not just a long day of sitting in classes, but sports—football, basketball, soccer, track, swimming, baseball—you name it!
The school day and all the activities that go with it can put quite a strain on kids’ bodies. Chiropractic can help reduce that strain and prevent injury. Whether your child is more of an athlete or a scholar (or both!), chiropractic is a good way to support their health.
First off, let’s talk about being in the classroom. For most students, that means sitting behind a desk for 6-8 hours a day. As we adults know all too well, sitting for extended periods of time can take a real toll on the body. Personal experience and contemporary research agree that the more time we spend sitting, the more out-of-shape our bodies become. In fact, a sedentary lifestyle is one of the major causes of a host of health problems, including unhealthy weight gain, heart disease and back pain.
If you want to live a healthy life, it’s better to start early—to build a strong foundation for health years or even decades before chronic health problems typically start to appear. For kids who are sitting in school all day, taking time to move is really important. It can be participating in sports, walking the dog, or just playing outside with friends—the method doesn’t really matter, but the more movement, the better. Ideally, kids should spend several hours a day moving in some capacity.
In addition to getting up and moving, chiropractic can be a great tool to support children’s health. Sitting all day puts tremendous strain on your back, especially if you’re not using a really supportive chair. Who’s ever seen an ergonomic school desk? No one, of course. A chiropractic adjustment can help relieve the pressure that long-term sitting puts on your spine, and correct any alignment issues that could lead to back problems down the road.
Of course, many children are already getting plenty of movement through after-school sports. That’s good! But ironically, I suppose, lots of exercise can strain your body the same way too much sitting does, and chiropractic can help relieve that strain as well. For kids who are serious athletes, I actually recommend preventative chiropractic care—regular appointments before any injury occurs, in order to keep the body loose and aligned.
The proactive approach helps protect against future injury.