Posture, use of computers and load carrying can all impact on spinal health.
Whilst student health is primarily a personal and family responsibility schools are encouraged to actively work with students, parents and carers to create a school environment which is supportive of spinal health.
To assist students, parents and schools to adopt spine health promoting behaviors and environments the Children's Hospital at Westmead has developed in consultation with the NSW Department of Education and Training a web-based information package.
The spinal health package includes a series of fact sheets with information and practical steps for promoting spinal health from a variety of perspectives, including those of the school, students and parents.
School communities can use this package to seek information about strategies they can implement to promote and encourage good spinal health.
The online resource Physical as anything.com provides information and help for teachers and schools, parents and carers, and healthcare professionals for school-aged children with medical, developmental and psychological conditions. The resource includes a chapter on Spina bifida and Spinal cord injury.
