| The Octagon Clinic educates local children at St Peter’s School how to look after their backs |
 Rachel Hodson, from Hammershith's Octagon Clinic, recently undertook a talk to year 4 students at St Peter’s School on how to look after their backs by sitting properly. As most of us are aware at some point in our life approximately 80% of people suffer from back pain that lasts more than a day. It costs businesses billions every year through days lost to work and sickness benefits.
For many of us, our back pain is often related to posture, as demands of modern living require us to maintain sedentary positions such as driving and sitting at a computer for long periods of time. Time pressure and being constantly on the go puts us under increased stress, which when prolonged can result in a weakened immune system and musculoskeletal system making us more prone to injury. Childhood is a period of enormous growth and development, if bad habits are learnt young they can result in problems in later life. Rachel Hodson from the Octagon Clinic decided that she would visit St Peters School to teach them about how their spine moves and nervous system functions. This was also a great opportunity to teach the children how to look after their backs and why it is so important. Rachel was asked to talk to year 4 (8-9 year olds), as they were currently learning about anatomy and how the body works in school. The session was very interactive, with models to look at and exercises from “Straighten up UK” put together by the British Chiropractic Association (available at www.chiropractic-uk.co.uk ). The children had plenty of time to ask questions - of which they had many! - share their gruesome stories of broken bones and their knowledge. Rachel and the rest of the team at the Octagon Clinic see children everyday with complaints ranging from headaches, neck pain and back pain often as a result of poor posture, from hours of sitting at the computer and in front of the television, or from sports injuries! Chiropractic and exercise markedly help to improve posture; however we all know that it’s difficult to tell children to sit up straight! By doing this interactive educational talk followed by the SUUK exercises the children were able to understand the importance of good posture and also feel the difference. If you would like Rachel to come and visit your school (or your child’s school) please let us know and she will try organising this with your head teacher. |