School and Subluxations: Perils of Teaching

By Krista Elliott

You know, we really don't appreciate teachers enough. These are people who have the enormous responsibility of educating our children and teaching them what they need to know to become productive and independent adults. Besides teaching, educators often act as disciplinarians, a shoulder to cry on, a referee, and a long-suffering butt of adolescent pranks. They spend their evenings marking homework and doing up lesson plans, and lose sleep over children who aren't getting the support they need at home. 

Besides the emotional wear and tear, however, teachers also experience a certain level of physical strain that can do a serious number on the spine and joints: 

Stand and Deliver: OK, so maybe my 11th grade chemistry teacher spent the entire class period sitting at his desk, yelling his lesson to the students in the back, but he was an exception. Most teachers spend a huge number of hours standing on concrete floors covered with a thin layer of linoleum. This unforgiving floor can lead to serious muscle strain and fatigue, which is a perfect recipe for joint misalignments and subluxations. 

And ... Down He Goes: Those floors we just talked about? They're slippery. And when they're wet from the kids' rain boots? They're REALLY slippery. And we haven't even addressed the unstoppable force that is a herd of fourth-graders heading out for recess. They'll knock down ANYTHING in their path, including a hapless teacher. And these slips and falls? They can result in serious back injuries, including herniated discs. 

Getting Down to Their Level: Teachers of younger grades don't usually want to spend the entire lesson looming over their small charges like Dorothy in Munchkinland. So, they kneel down. They crouch down. They fold their height into tiny plastic chairs. And their backs pay the price. A UK survey of primary and early grade teachers had some astonishing results: 

• 88 percent experienced back pain
• 73 percent experienced neck and shoulder pain
• 82 percent experienced Musculo-skeletal Disorders (MSDs)* once a week or more
• 38 percent had been off work

With all of this strain and pain, it's imperative for teachers to get regular chiropractic treatment. With routine care from the professionals at The Joint Chiropractic, teachers can ensure that their spine, joints and nerves are functioning at optimal levels. The result? A body that can feel better and be more resistant to strain and injury. And if injury and pain are already part of a teacher's daily routine (along with wiping noses and reminding kids to remember their backpacks)? Customized and gentle treatment at The Joint can accelerate healing and reduce pain, helping them get back on their feet that much earlier. 

Chiropractic care is an essential tool in a teacher's arsenal (the others are coffee, a sense of humor, and infinite patience). Visit The Joint today to find out how you can get a back that makes the grade!