At Surdel Chiropractic in Surrey, we’re passionate about ensuring young people develop healthy habits that support spinal wellness. And as we head into the school year, Youth Chiropractic Care becomes more important than ever.

In today’s blog, we’ll explore how long periods of sitting—especially during school hours—can affect spinal health, and share practical ways chiropractic care and lifestyle strategies can help.

How Long Periods of Sitting Can Impact Spinal Health at School

Sitting for any period exerts pressure on the spine that standing or lying down don’t, which placing strain on the lumbar discs.

In addition, slouching or forward head posture can disrupt the natural spinal curve, leading to muscle strain and disc stress.

Both of the above are experiences among youth due to long hours of sitting in school, and being unaware of the importance of posture.

Additional Impact of Prolongs Sitting Include:

• weakens core, gluteal, and spinal muscles, reducing support for proper posture.
• leads to reduced spinal joint lubrication, stiffness, and diminished mobility.
• contributes to muscle imbalance and a potential decrease in respiratory health.

School isn’t the only contributor to such factors. Excessive screen time is linked to significantly higher rates of spinal pain in children as well. Those exceeding six hours per day faced up to a 2.5-fold increase in spinal discomfort.

• Just three hours of uninterrupted sitting can diminish vascular function in young girls by 33%, potentially affecting long-term health.
• Sedentary time exceeding four hours triggers heightened risk of neck pain, with six hours being particularly problematic—due to biomechanical strain from posture and screen use.

Even things as simple as heavy or improperly worn backpacks can strain the spine. Recommendations include selecting well-fitted, appropriately sized packs with padded straps, and keeping weight under 10-15% of body weight.

Youth Chiropractic Care: Supporting Youth Spinal Health

Our youth chiropractic care provides gentle, age-appropriate techniques to correct misalignments and preserve spinal integrity as children grow. Early check-ups can pre-empt prolonged problems like chronic pain or nerve interference.

If you are seeking ways to help your child function at their best in school, our Youth Chiropractic Care is here to help manage one aspect that could make a big difference to their daily routine!