5 Tips to Tackle Back to School

Back to school started last week, and if you have college students will be going on over the next couple of week. This means many trips to the store, heavy backpacks, books, and much more. This is great for you and your kids but the heavy backpacks coupled with bad posture can hurt your kids in the long run. So, here are 5 back to school tips to keep you and the family healthy:

1. Buy the right backpack

A good backpack will be light, fit tight, and be comfortable to wear. You want a backpack with wide, padded shoulder straps, a padded back, and a waist strap. All straps should be adjusted so the backpack is snug to your child's back and not leaning away from the body. Pack the backpack so that the heaviest objects are closest to the body and any bumpy or odd-shaped objects are on the outside, away from the back.

2. Label Things Appropriately

If you are moving kid into a college dorm or new apartment, there is likely going to be a lot of heavy lifting involved. It is important to label boxes accordingly so you know what is inside and make sure to lift with the proper form. Before lifting, make sure you have a good grip and balanced footing and bend from the hips and knees!

3. Set Up And Ergonomic Workspace

If your kid is going to be doing a lot of homework, studying, or reading, make sure they can do so with proper posture. Use a book stand to keep books at eye level and reduce strain on the neck and shoulders. 

4. Don't forget to stretch

Returning back to school normally means more activity than during the summer. Your body may have adapted to the lack of sports and therefore needs extra time to warm up. Be sure to stretch before and after playing!

5. Maintain proper posture throughout the day

Sitting or standing with proper posture can help to reduce the strain on your neck, shoulders and low back. It will also help keep you attentive! Sit with your shoulders back and neck upright. Don't slump your back forward. Your ears, shoulders and hips should be in a straight line. Be sure to take advantage of breaks between classes to walk around and stretch

And lastly, come in to our office for regular chiropractic adjustment to ensure your body is functioning at its best!