33%.

That’s the number of children suffering from back pain across the US.

As September rolls in, millions of children are getting back to school. Unfortunately, many of them carry overloaded backpacks and spend hours sitting slouched at a desk or hunched over a laptop, leading to poor posture. And poor posture is one of the main explanations behind this staggering statistic.

But the good news is that it’s not all doom and gloom. There are ways to help support your children's spinal health and prevent long-term back problems.

So, to start the new school year on the right foot, here are four tips to help your children keep a healthy spine.

Purchase an Ergonomic Backpack

Heavy backpacks put a lot of strain on children’s growing spines and can lead to spinal distortion. This, in turn, can cause headaches, muscle pain, and chronic back pain. Besides, recent research has shown that overloaded backpacks are linked to disc compression and increased curvature of the lower back.

So, when shopping for a school bag, you should ensure that:

• It’s ergonomic and made of light materials.

• It’s the right size for them (it shouldn't be wider than their chest).

• It features padded shoulder straps and is adjustable.

• It doesn’t carry more than 15% of your children’s body weight.

• Your children don’t carry their bag using only one shoulder.

• The heaviest items in the bag should be closest to their back.

Limit Their Screen Time

Ever heard of text neck?

The term refers to the neck pain caused by spending too much time looking down at laptops, tablets, and iPads.

The neck’s muscles, ligaments, and tendons are designed to support our head’s weight in a neutral position. However, bending the head forward and looking down increases the weight the neck has to sustain, causing stiffness and upper back pain.

So, to avoid text neck and painful long-term back problems, limit your children’s use of electronic devices and encourage them to play outside or socialize instead.

Improve Their Sitting Posture

Having good posture when sitting is critical, especially for children. Not only is their spine developing, but they also spend a great amount of time sitting at school, studying at home, and watching TV.

Some of the things they can do to ensure good posture when sitting include:

• Sitting with their shoulders back and relaxed. Both their feet should be on the floor, and they shouldn’t cross their legs or ankles.

• Keeping their hips and knees at a 90-degree angle and their head in a neutral position.

• Stretching their neck at their desk and walking when on a break.

Book in a Spinal Assessment With An Experienced Sarasota Chiropractor

An experienced chiropractor will be able to check your children’s spine and posture and design a personalized treatment plan for them.

At ChiroclubUSA, we specialize in tailored chiropractic care designed to support our clients’ needs, including children. Dr. Andy is all about ongoing proactive care to avoid painful injuries and expensive treatments and ensure optimal spine and musculoskeletal health for the whole family.

ChiroClubUSA works just like a Health Club. Our revolutionary program offers unlimited visits, minimal to no wait time, open scheduling (just show up), and quick, highly effective, 5-minute visits and family packages — with pricing so affordable you don't even need insurance!

Dr. Andy is conveniently located on GYM SRQ 3530 Clark Rd., Sarasota, FL 34231.

So, call 941-218-0001 and schedule your first appointment with him today!

Further Reading

Because we genuinely care about your family’s wellbeing, we regularly publish tips and tricks to help you improve your health. So, for more information on how chiropractic care can help improve your spinal health, don’t hesitate to browse our blog section and read our latest article on why One Crack Won’t Fix Your Back.