5 Back to School Tips from Your Noblesville Chiropractor

Across the country, summer is winding down as children return to the classrooms.

Unfortunately, the school year is rife with opportunities for students to suffer from injuries due to poor posture, inappropriate biomechanics, and other issues. For this reason, your Noblesville chiropractors are here to help you and your child by providing you with 5 tips for the new school year. 

 

Back to School Tip #1: Practice Good Posture

School desks are, sadly, not designed with good posture in mind. The chairs and desks provided to students are often extremely uncomfortable and they make it easy for students to slump into poor posture. Luckily, there are some easy ways for your child to practice good posture in class. 

One way to encourage good posture is to use a lumbar roll while seated. A lumbar roll is a small, round pillow that is placed behind the low back while seated. These pillows force the back into more extension and prevent children from slumping forward. 

Another method of practicing good posture is to focus on the 90-90-90 position. For our purposes, think of the hips, knees, and ankles when attempting to recreate the 90-90-90 position. Specifically, you’ll want to keep each of these joints in a comfortable 90-degree bend. This puts less pressure on the legs and the low back, preventing nagging injuries and back pain which can contribute to decreased focus during class.

 

Back to School Tip #2: Get to Bed Early

We know, we know: no kid wants to go to bed early. But there has been significant research into the effect of insufficient sleep on school performance. In fact, many students will score much lower on tests if they don’t get enough sleep every night.

That being said, there is some controversy about how much sleep a growing child needs. However, most sources indicate that kids should sleep for at least 8 hours a night (and longer for younger children).

 

Back to School Tip #3: Pack Your Backpack Efficiently

Your child may feel that he or she needs to haul every school book home every night. However, this extra weight can put tons of stress through the back. Over time, heavy backpacks can lead to back problems, neck pain, and leg issues. 

Be sure to pack your bag with efficiency in mind. This means keeping the heaviest books close to the back, tightening the straps, and making sure that the weight is centered on the back, not biasing one side or the other.

 

Back to School Tip #4: Eat Quality Foods

School lunches leave a lot to be desired. In fact, most school lunches will offer frozen pizza and similar nutrient-devoid foods every day. That being said, there are almost always options for eating healthier, such as a salad bar.

If your school doesn’t have any healthy options available for purchase, consider packing lunch at least a few times a week. Good, nutrient-rich foods will often lead to better performance in schools and reduced chance of injury.

 

Back to School Tip #5: Schedule Regular Chiropractic Visits

Your Noblesville chiropractors at Anchor Health Chiropractic are here to help!

Chiropractic treatments are associated with decreased pain, better posture, improved sleep, and tons of other benefits. Best of all, spinal adjustments can be modified according to the size and development of the patient in question. This makes them the perfect treatment option for kids, adults, and everyone in between!

We can work with your child’s schedule to make sure that they receive frequent chiropractic manipulations. These treatments will keep their spine strong and mobile, reducing the chance of injury and improving many other areas of health.

If you’re looking for a new chiropractor for your child, book a session with us today!