Sports and playground activities are an integral part of balancing out a school day. Our bodies are meant to move, jump and run; not be sedentary for a large portion of the day. Our core, after all, is a highly mobile spinal structure! The phrase "move it or lose it" is more than just a motivational statement. Exercise is not only good for child and teen's physical health, such as strong bones and muscles, but also good for their physiological wellbeing.

According to KidsHealth.org, aerobic activity that gets the heart rate up leads to a stronger, more efficient delivery of oxygen to the body, increased flexibility reduces the chances of strains and sprains, and physical fitness will often lead to better sleep and being better able to handle physical and emotional challenges. Although it may not be something you immediately think about as a child, parents should know that the American Heart Association sites being physically inactive as playing a major role in the development of coronary artery disease, increases the risk of stroke, obesity, high blood pressure, low HDL ("good") cholesterol and diabetes.

The health of your spine also plays an important role in your body functioning well and operating without the above mentioned conditions because it houses the autonomic nervous system which runs all the bodily systems. According to the findings of 45 chiropractic research studies, five chiropractic case studies and 23 review articles, chiropractic adjustment is proven to enhance the health of the human body.

Consistent results proved that chiropractic adjustments do the following:

• Decrease blood pressure in normal and hypertensive people

• Reduce the ill effects of asthma.

• Increase T-cell numbers (the immune system) in HIV patients

• Relive symptoms of inflammation in osteoarthritis

• Enhance immune function in certain white blood cells

As our autonomic nervous system strives to keep you body healthy on an unconscious level, it's up to us to be conscious of our physical fitness. The American Heart Association "recommends that children and adolescents participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day;" the minimum daily activity children should get varies with age.

Chiropractic and exercise work synergistically off one another; the better your level of fitness, the better supported your spinal health is and the proper care of your spine ensures that you have the potential to achieve that high activity level. Come learn more how to keep your body as healthy and moving at our office at 370 E. Kathleen Ave., Suite 600, Coeur d'Alene, at our website, www.CDAHealth.com, find us on Facebook or call us at (208) 667-7434.