As Summer Break winds to a close and our kids get ready to return to school in St Cloud FL, it’s so important to remember how their spinal health impacts their central nervous system and, as a result, their ability to learn, be active, and stay healthy.

As we all know, our brain controls how we think, learn, move, and feel, and our spinal cord carries messages back and forth between the brain and the nerves that run throughout the body. When our spine is out of line, however, those messages can get jumbled, short-circuited, or cut off altogether.

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But what does that mean for our kids as they return to school In St Cloud FL

A misaligned spine puts a lot of pressure on our child’s central nervous system, and that can manifest itself in the classroom as emotional dysregulation and anxiety. Their brain and their nerves can become so stressed from not communicating correctly that any additional frustration — struggling with a math problem, being told to stop talking in class or having a disagreement with a friend — sends them into an emotional spiral. This can also result in our kids being misdiagnosed with ADD or ADHD when the problem is merely that their central nervous system is overly stressed because their spine is misaligned.

Because the central nervous system also controls many bodily functions, including our immune system, a misaligned spine can also interfere with our kids’ ability to fight illness. Being able to attend school in-person as opposed to making up work at home with us parents is critical. (Seriously, who among us understands “new math?!!”). And with so many kids with developing immune systems located in such close quarters, keeping their immune systems fully charged is so important!

For parents of kids who play sports, misalignment of their spine can not only hinder their performance in their sport but also increase their likelihood of injury and lengthen their recovery time. And if your child plays an impact sport or one that involves rapid twists, turns, or throws, they are even more vulnerable to experiencing misalignments.

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The good news is that we have some solutions!

First, while you are putting sports physicals and “Meet the Teacher” nights on your calendar, call us to make an appointment to get your child’s spine properly aligned.

Second, when shopping for backpacks, select one that fits their torso (no wider than their back). Look for wide, padded shoulder straps to distribute the weight evenly. Be sure to adjust the shoulder straps so the backpack fits snugly against their back and the bottom rests in the curve of their lower back. Place heavier items closer to their back, and make sure they don’t overload! Backpacks should never be more than 10-15% of their body weight to prevent strain on their upper back and shoulders.

Lastly, make sure those kiddos are staying hydrated! The discs between the bones of their spine are roughly 80% water!!! Drinking at least eight 8 oz. glasses of water each day is essential, but they’ll need more if they are outside for extended periods of time in the heat or are doing strenuous activities.

We are invested in you and your family, and we want each of you to be as healthy and successful as possible. Give us a call at (407) 498-4052 to make an appointment. We’d love to help set your students up for success by getting their spines properly-aligned today.