Back to School

It is never too early to encourage children to look after their spines.  With the new school year now upon us, new school books purchased and school bags packed, this is the ideal time to make small changes that will benefit their backs for years to come.

Let’s begin with the most important meal of the day- breakfast.  Students who eat a healthy breakfast before going to school are more attentive in class and can concentrate on their studies better.  Moreover this is the ideal time to make sure that they are getting enough calcium to build strong bones.  A supplement of Omega 3 has been shown time and time again to help with brain function and the correct functioning of the nerves in the body.

After eating breakfast, what better way to continue the day than with exercise?  Walking or cycling to school is a perfect way to incorporate regular exercise in your child’s life.  The fitter your child the less likely they are to injure themselves.

Most children are very fashion conscious, and on the streets of Co. Kildare they can be seen lugging heavy rucksacks over one shoulder or worse still using bags that only have one long strap.  Urge your child to wear a rucksack correctly over both shoulders.  Carrying on one side can lead to neck and shoulder tension, leading to headaches, low back pain and even curvature of the spine (scoliosis). The bag should not be carried more than 10cm below the waistline.
The contents of the bag are also important.  The American Academy of Orthopaedics state that schoolbags should weigh no more than 15% of the child’s body weight.  So for an average eight-year-old weighing 26kg, their bag should not weigh more than 3.9kgs. Weigh your child’s bag today and shock yourself.

Sitting incorrectly at a desk can cause bad posture.  Students should be encouraged to site upright, not to slouch and not to cross their legs.  Using a Swiss gym ball to sit on at home while doing homework or on the computer also helps as it encourages correct posture.

Most children spend lots of time on the computer either playing games or social networking, again adopting a poor posture for too long causing muscular imbalance.  After 30-40 minutes a break should be taken even if it is just to walk around.

Pain is a warning sign do not ignore it.  If you are concerned about your child’s posture or spinal health, visit our qualified chiropractors at Clane Chiropractic.

Road Safety Authority (RSA) and the ESB to distribute 80,000 vests to the country's new junior infants

 Every child starting school for the first time this September is to be given a high visibility vest, as part of a new campaign to highlight the importance of road safety. Mr. Brett of the RSA advises if your child walks or cycles to school to take them on the route in advance and make sure they know where they are going. If they travel by car or bus, make sure they know how important it is to put their seatbelt on at all times," he said.

Mr Brett also urged teachers to make road safety a key part of their lesson plan.