Back To School Back Stress

Now that the kids are back to school, it's good to keep several things in mind that can impact your kids spinal health.  Kids are transitioning from summer with all it's outdoor activities to sitting much more in class and doing homework.  Motion is extremely important for spinal health.  So try to plan more physical activity at this time of year.  School sports and PE can help but make special effort to get your kids doing some type of sport or regular exercise activity. 

Every parent has probably noticed their kids posture at some point.  Repeated poor positions and postures become normal after a time.  So, just like your mother told you, sit up straight, stand up straight, yes, it's really important!

Backpacks are a frequent problem as well.  It's not so much the pack as the amount placed in it.  Many kids use a backpack that is too large for them and then they can easily overload it.  This then creates overload on the lower back joints and discs.  It can even lead to back pain.  For all of our patients we provide a free backpack evaluation at our Redmond office.   This would include looking at the fit and usage of your students pack as well as an evaluation of it's weight.