Every January millions of children, including some of our very own patients, go back to school. While schools are great places for children to learn and develop both mentally and socially, it is important for kids to remember their health and wellbeing in the classroom all year round.

While most parents and children have a checklist of stationery and supplies for starting the school year, we are providing our patients with a ‘Back to School Health Checklist.’ The checklist, developed as part of the Australian Chiropractors Association (ACA) Back to School Campaign, is a great way to remind kids of the importance of building healthy habits in school.

They are simple to incorporate and easily fit into a child’s everyday routine. For instance, packing a healthy lunch filled with lots of fruit and veggies, getting 60 minutes of daily physical activity and wearing the backpack correctly by carrying it with both straps.

The Health Checklist also reminds kids to reduce their recreational screen time, sit correctly in the classroom and consider chiropractic care.

Kids don’t often think about the impact that common activities like sitting in a classroom, carrying a heavy bag and excessive screen time can have on their overall health and wellbeing.

Pick up your complimentary Back to School Health Checklist from us today, or if you are concerned about your child’s spine or any other back to school related activities, book an appointment with us via Cranbourne Chiropractic Centre online booking site.

For more information on the ACA’s Back to School, visit backtoschool.org.au

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As part of the Australian Chiropractors Association’s Back to School campaign, Cranbourne Chiropractic Centre here in Cranbourne North is encouraging Aussie kids to adopt positive spinal health habits.

These habits include:

• Carrying a backpack correctly with both straps, adjusting it to the correct height and ensuring only the essentials are packed, with heavier items to the back of the bag to reduce weight.
• Maintaining good posture when sitting in a classroom by keeping their shoulders back and relaxed with both feet firmly on the floor.
• Trying to reduce recreation screen time to two-hours every day.
• Eating a balanced, healthy diet and staying hydrated, helping kits to keep kids active in the playground and alert in the classroom.
• Getting enough physical activity is key for a child’s wellbeing, so as a guide, kids should try and get at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily.

Let’s help kids practise these positive spinal health habits this back to school season and all year round.

I welcome you to make an appointment for more advice and assistance on implementing these positive health habits into your child’s daily activity.

We are even able to assist with fitting your child’s backpack to suit their current level of development. Contact us at Cranbourne Chiropractic Centre to book your appointment.

For more information on these tips and the Back to School campaign, visit backtoschool.org.au  

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A few simple tips to get you through:

1. Stay active. Break up your study with a bit of exercise. Go for a walk, a quick run or dance around the house (not recommended if studying in the library)

2. Good posture. Maintain good posture to help relieve tension that builds up. A firm seat with good lumbar support or a small cushion. Feet slightly raised off the ground on a small box/platform and your desk slightly angled up towards you.

3. Keep your spine aligned. Keeping your spine and nervous system functioning well is key. A chiropractic adjustment may help sort out some tension you are feeling. A good functioning nervous system may keep you sharp during study and exams.

4. Regular breaks. 40-45 minutes of study is ideal with a 10-15 minute break. It will keep you focused and more efficient with your study.

5. Enjoy!

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Unfortunately they then proceeded to spend the next 20 minutes on their phones or devices looking down playing games etc! We had to leave so I’m not sure how long they were out in this wonderful park playing on their electronic devices. How sad!

Neck pain and poor posture often go hand in hand. With the increased use of electronic devices and screen time people of all ages are getting into static, hunched, forward head positions for long periods of time, resulting in increased muscle tension and tightness in the joints of the neck and upper back. What’s called ‘Tech Neck’ these days.

Part of the problem is that we aren’t getting outside as much as we used to. Kids are stuck inside on their devices and unfortunately looking for adults for inspiration is no good as they are also head down on their devices.

As a chiropractor this is what we are up against. Hours of screen time leading to poor posture, neck pain, headaches, upper back pain etc. Tech neck and even worse ‘Digital Dementia’ where the brain doesn’t think for itself anymore due to sensory overload from too much screen time.

And so even when we get people outside to enjoy the local parks, they stay chained to their phones. For your neck and your kids, go and enjoy our local parks but keep off your phones.

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Celebrated each year on 16 October, people from around the world come together to raise awareness about spinal disorders and empower others to take charge of their spinal health.

An annual initiative of the Global Alliance for Musculoskeletal Health, World Spine Day is accompanied by the 2019 theme ‘Get Spine Active’ and local chiropractor Dr Shaun Beovich from Cranbourne Chiropractic Centre believes there is no better time to spread this important message.

“Being physically active can greatly help your spinal health by strengthening your muscles and easing the pressure on your spine,” Dr Beovich said.

While the ‘Get Spine Active’ theme aims to focus on the benefits of exercise and daily movement for maintaining health, Dr Beovich says it’s important to think about how all daily habits can affect your spine.

“World Spine Day is a perfect opportunity to ask yourself, ‘am I making the right choices for my spinal health?’ If not, then it’s time to make those changes and if needed seek professional help to get you started.”

‘Get Spine Active’ will focus on common physical activities including running, swimming, weightlifting and cycling, with the aim of encouraging all Australians to incorporate one of these activities or other healthy habits into their everyday lives.

Other forms of physical activity can include stretching, walking and taking small breaks during your workday. To help Australians get started on improving their spinal health, the Australian Chiropractors Association has developed the Straighten Up app designed to help improve posture, with a 3-minute stretching exercise program. They have also created the Just Start Walking app to help encourage Australians to experience the benefits of walking and also allows you to track and map your walks so you can monitor your progress and improvement.

Cranbourne Chiropractic Centre is encouraging their community of Cranbourne to Get Spine Active this World Spine Day and take the correct steps to improve their spinal health.

Chiropractors are well placed to assess and manage disorders of the musculoskeletal system and offer solutions and advice regarding your existing spinal health issues or how to improve your overall spinal health.

To book an appointment with your local ACA chiropractor, book online at Cranbourne Chiropractic Centre or call (03) 9581 2624.

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If you are one of the 50%¹ of Australians that sit at an office desk from 9am – 5pm (or some variation of that) then you are probably guilty of sitting in that same position for most of the day, often unaware of the potential effects of poor posture on your spine.

Between sitting at home on the couch, on the train to work and in the office all day, you could only be left with around one hour to stand, walk and exercise.²

While sitting down for long periods of time cannot be entirely avoided, improving your posture and staying active throughout the day can prove beneficial for your spinal health and overall wellbeing.

Here are a few helpful tips to get in the habit of practicing good posture:

• With spring here and daylight savings, take advantage of the weather by going for a walk during your lunch break or after work.
• Take the stairs instead of the lift up to the office.
• Take little breaks every 30 minutes by walking to the coffee machine or bathroom to keep your body moving.
• Pay attention to the way you sit at work – avoid hunching or slouching at your desk. Sit back in your chair and make sure your back is well-supported by the chair.
• When at your desk distribute your body weight evenly on both hips and keep your feet flat on the floor.
• If you have a height adjustable desk, try alternating frequently between standing and sitting If your workplace does not offer standing desks, it may be a good idea to request one.

Take a moment to assess your office desk. Are there any elements that are putting stress or strain on your body? Keep the mouse and telephone within easy reach so you don’t have to stretch to reach them. Adjust your computer screen so that your neck is in a neutral position and be mindful of your posture while sitting.

It is easy to forget to take a break when we are busy at work. So, set an alarm on your phone to remind you or use the reminders on the Straighten Up app.

Taking these habits home with you will help put them into practice in everyday life and will also ensure that good posture and spinal care is integrated into every aspect of your life.

For more information on maintaining a healthy spine in the work place, check with chiropractor Dr Shaun from Cranbourne Chiropractic.

¹Safe Work Australia 2017, Sitting and Standing, www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sedentary, Web.
²Australian Chiropractors Association, ‘How much time do you spend sitting each day?,’ Sit Right, www.chiropractors.asn.au/sitright, Web.

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Why it Matters:

Each day we work with people, young and old, who are experiencing the symptoms associated with tech neck. By creating a plan of care that may include stretching, adjustments, and postural exercises; we have been able to help our patients overcome these aches and pains without giving up their mobile phones and tablets. 

• Looking down at your phone, tablet, or computer for long periods of time can cause muscle strains and neck pain which is now known as tech neck.
• Researchers have discovered the angle of your head when text messaging places tremendous amount of stress on your neck and spine.
• Taking short breaks to stretch at least every 30 minutes helps your body feel better by improving your posture and resetting your balance.

Next Steps:

Next time you are on the phone, stop for a moment and see if your head is creeping forward. If your chin is tucked down and your ears are in front of your shoulders, then you are in the forward head posture we call tech neck. It’s a good time to take a break, stretch, and reset. If you are experiencing any pain or headaches, then please reach out so we can work with you to create a plan to help you stay connected without suffering from tech neck.

Science Source(s):

Head flexion angle while using a smartphone. Ergonomics. 2015

Effects of a Resistance and Stretching Training Program on Forward Head and Protracted Shoulder Posture in Adolescents. JMPT 2017

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Why it Matters:

The facets are little joints on the back side of your spine. Similar to your knuckles, they have a small capsule around them for lubrication and support. When a facet joint is stretched open, gas within the joint is released, making a crunch or cracking sound. The release of gas is perfectly normal and happens because of the negative pressure in the joint. Just like taking the top off a champagne bottle. Sometimes adhesions can occur in the joint making it painful to move. That is why after a chiropractic adjustment many people feel better and have an improved range of motion. Adjustments help the facet joints move more naturally with fewer restrictions.  

– Cracks and pops in your back and neck are typically caused by the release of gas within the joint (like a knuckle)

– Adhesions in the joints of your spine can restrict your range of motion and contribute to degenerative changes

– Adjustments reduce the adhesions in the fact joints resulting in pain relief and an improved range of motion

Next Steps:

While many chiropractic techniques create a “cracking” or “crunching” type sound- not all do. Low-speed techniques also improve the motion of the facet joints, sometimes without any sound at all. Dr Shaun at Cranbourne Chiropractic Centre is proficient in a number of different techniques and will choose one that suits your needs.

And here’s a tip to share with your friends- stubborn headaches are frequently caused by irritated facet joints. If you know someone who suffers from headaches and works on a computer most of the day- their facet joints may be to blame. Share this blog with them and let them know a chiropractic adjustment may be just what they need!

Science Source:

Effects of side-posture positioning and side-posture adjusting on the lumbar zygapophysial joints as evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging: a before and after study with randomization. JMPT 2000. Neurophysiological effects of spinal manipulation. The Spine Journal 2002.

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Why it Matters:

Your skin is the largest organ in your body, and it’s loaded with small sensory nerve fibers that are responsible for proprioception. Placing tape in specific areas of your body across the skin provides sensory input that gives your brain more information as you move. This additional information has been shown to help improve balance, reduce pain, and support proper movement patterns.

• Tape worn on the skin provides your brain with more information about your movement patterns and can help reduce injuries and improve rehabilitation.
• Taping has been shown to improve balance for up to 72 hours after the tape has been removed.
• Researchers have found taping can be more effective than postural exercises alone to reduce neck pain.

Next Steps:

You can think of the tape less like a brace and more like a nervous system reminder that you wear on your skin. Not only does it look cool, but it has the potential to support better movement, reduce pain, and limit injuries. Now the next time you see an athlete wearing tape, you will know it’s more than just a fashion statement!

Science Source:

Extended use of Kinesiology Tape and Balance in Participants with Chronic Ankle Instability. Journal of Athletic Training 2016

Efficacy of kinesio taping versus postural correction exercises on pain intensity and axioscapular muscles activation in mechanical neck dysfunction: a randomized blinded clinical trial. The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2017

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Why it Matters:

Driving a car, working on the computer, and using a tablet/phone all usually result in less than ideal posture. And when you start to lean forward, it places a tremendous amount of extra pressure on the discs in your neck and spine. This can cause increased compression and lead to pain. Even just a few inches of forward head posture can double or triple the amount of stress on the spinal joints in your neck.

• The average human head weights approximately 3.6-4.5kg.
• For every 2.5cm of forward head posture, an additional 4.5kg of weight is added to your spine.
• Forward head posture may result in muscle imbalances, a high risk for spinal degeneration, reduced range of motion, and pain.

Next Steps:

Take a moment today at work and notice if your shoulders are rounding, the head has moved forward, and upper back is hunched over. If you see yourself slouching into this posture, let us know. We would love to provide you with some exercises you can do at work to help strengthen the muscles supporting your spine and combat these muscle imbalances. And remember, the more time you spend in this posture, the more likely you are to suffer head and neck pain.

Science Source(s):

The Physiology of the Joints, Volume III. 6th ed. London: Churchill Livingstone; 2007.

Myofascial trigger points, neck mobility and forward head posture in unilateral migraine. Cephalalgia 2006

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