19 June 2020

Avoid back to school habits

| My Gungahlin
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Growing children need to maintain good posture to avoid spinal health issues and other conditions

As children go back to school soon the Chiropractors’ Association of Australia (CAA) wants to remind parents and school children how important it is to maintain proper posture.

CAA spokesperson Dr Bartoilich (Chiropractor) says when children go back to school, they are back to long periods of sitting at a desk and carrying heavily laden backpacks. Dr Bartoilich says that long hours of sitting and carrying backpacks that are too heavy and not properly fitted is an easy way for our kids to develop spinal problems.

Sitting correctly isn’t what children think about, but they need to form good postural habits when they’re young to help them later on in life,” Dr Bartoilich said. “Parents and teachers should be aware that sitting for prolonged periods can have many negative health effects on children. Back and neck pain, stiffness and reduced concentration can result from sitting too long.”

Dr Bartoilich says it’s very important for growing children to maintain good posture to avoid future damage.

Proper posture keep muscles, ligaments, bones and internal organs in their natural position,” Dr Bartoilich said. “When posture is bad, pressure on your spine is increased. This can lead to tension soreness, headaches, back pain and fatigue. A good posture permits you to breathe better and as a result reduces fatigue and minimizes other side effects associated with bad posture.

Another thing children should be mindful of when heading back to school is the weight of their back packs. A heavily laden backpack can put unnecessary stress on children’s spines and can lead to acute and long term back problems, says Dr Bartoilich.

It is best to avoid overfilling the back pack and place heavy items at the base of the bag,” Dr Bartoilich said. “When choosing a backpack make sure to place emphasis on appropriate size, fit and comfort, rather than how fashionable the bag is. Also remember to use both shoulder straps and never sling the pack over one shoulder. If parents are not sure, they can contact a CAA Chiropractor in their area who will be more than happy to provide backpack safety advice.

For more information visit www.chiropractors.asn.au or to contact Dr Bartoilich see ACT Chiropractic

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