We all remember the long hours of sitting in class from 1st grade to senior year of high school. You probably noticed some tightness or pain in your neck, mid-back, or lower back during that time frame. It probably wasn’t bad, and you told yourself, ” If it just popped, I bet it would feel better.” So you pushed your chin to the side, or you arched your back over the chair, or you tried to rotate your body all the way around. This is self-adjusting; you probably see your kids doing it at home, too. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it could point to discomfort for you, kiddo.

Attempting to find relief for tension or pain in your back by making the popping noises yourself at school shows us a lot. It shows us that something is annoying enough that the student would rather contort their body to try and relieve pressure than pay attention in class. This means the discomfort is significant. Pain will always trump the ability to pay attention. It isn’t easy to sit and focus when you keep thinking about how your back feels. This can be frustrating for everyone involved, and if it goes unnoticed, it could get worse and cause larger issues with focus.

Enter McKinley Family Chiropractic. As a family wellness center, we want to make sure everyone, including the kids, feels as good as they possibly can. Everyone has a spine, which means everyone needs to be adjusted, so if you notice your son or daughter trying to adjust themselves, please bring them in for a consultation and evaluation. If you have any questions or are interested in bringing in your kids, please talk to one of the doctors or front desk staff, and we will answer any questions you have!