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Do kids need Chiropractic?


                How concerned with your posture were you when you were a kid?!  I know for some of us, it’s been a while since we were in school and in addition, some have tried to block memories of school entirely; but you didn’t care how you sat in your desk.  I leaned over my desk always.  I sat cross-legged in my chair, classmates would sit with their chair backward (until the teacher told them to sit properly).  We’d lean all over hell with no concern about how it affected our spines.  At least my backpack was always empty…
                We also moved a lot more than our kids do.  We didn’t have Fortnite… or Roblox… or Minecraft… whatever the addiction du jour is.  Our kids may use both straps on their backpacks, but they are stuffed full and weigh too much for our little ones to be burdened with.  They sit all day in desks and they sit on their phones all evening.  If we aren’t careful, these kids are going to have SEVERE spinal issues, and many are experiencing the trouble before they graduate high school. 
                There isn’t one answer to this problem.  Lighter backpacks; stretching between classes; less homework; drastically limited time on devices; more time outside playing or involvement in sports are all steps we can take and should take.  As a parent myself, I also realize it’s hard to listen to Dad and Mom when they tell us to stretch after sitting for 45 minutes.  Kids don’t WANT to go outside and play (some do, but most don’t).  We have used our phones as the babysitter while they were growing up and now it’s nearly impossible to pry it away from them. (Plus we’re on ours, so why do we get to judge?)

                My oldest had her first week of middle school this week.  She is drained, but I think she enjoys it.  Her first day of school, she stopped into the clinic and I adjusted her.  I find myself adjusting my girls more during the school year than during summer.  I am convinced the physical stress (micro-traumas) they endure throughout the school year take an enormous toll on their little bodies. 
                If we can’t stop them from sitting on their phones all evening, and we can’t be with them chiding them to sit properly and we don’t have much say in the amount of stuff they need to bring to and from school, then chiropractic is an important option.  When I was in junior high, I’d lean back in my chair trying to get my midback to “crack”.  When it did, I’d feel much better.  I didn’t know it then, but my body needed to be adjusted really badly.  Our bodies speak to us.  When we are kids, we don’t know how to listen very well to our bodies.  Just look at a toddler who is sick.  They don’t know to slow down, until they are all out of energy. 
                If you are finding your child is moody after school, or complains of pain in their back, shoulders, hips, etc; if your child’s teacher shows concern about not paying attention or fidgeting in class, if your kid’s backpack can be used by you on your arm days then getting them checked and adjusted to keep their backs moving and healthy is one great thing we can do as parents to help our kids.

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