The return to school in September brings distinct changes to children's daily physical routines, and physiotherapy clinics across the Lower Mainland report a seasonal increase in youth assessments for posture and activity-related concerns following the summer break.
The shift from summer to the school year brings changes to children's daily physical routines across British Columbia, including longer periods of classroom sitting, daily backpack carrying, and the start of organized fall sports that increase physical activity after the summer break. The Canadian Paediatric Society recommends that backpacks weigh no more than 10 to 15 percent of a child's body weight and that children use both straps to distribute load evenly across the shoulders, noting that improper backpack use is a common contributor to back discomfort among school-age children. Physiotherapy clinics across the Lower Mainland report seeing more youth patients during September and October for assessment of posture-related concerns and activity-related complaints associated with this seasonal transition. PhysioLab, a physiotherapy group with a Hastings clinic in East Vancouver, notes that its practitioners see this pattern each fall as children adjust to the school routine and return to organized sports participation.
The start of fall sports leagues also brings increased physical activity for young athletes who spent the summer with less structured exercise. A 2023 study published in the Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine that analyzed data from over 20 studies across multiple sports found that consistent use of neuromuscular training programs in community sport settings reduced lower-extremity injuries by 34 percent across all age groups, with the strongest effects observed in athletes under 18 years of age. Common activity-related complaints seen at clinics during the early fall include knee pain from growth-related conditions such as Osgood-Schlatter disease, shin splints from increased running during soccer and field hockey, and shoulder discomfort from overhead activities in basketball and volleyball.
The FIFA 11+ warm-up program, developed by international sports medicine researchers and adapted for Canadian youth sport contexts, is among the structured prevention protocols available to community organizations. The program includes running exercises, strength training, balance activities, and jumping drills designed to be completed before practice sessions. Studies have shown that teams that consistently use the FIFA 11+ program experience fewer injuries during the season compared to teams that do not use a structured warm-up, reinforcing the role of prevention-focused training in youth sport safety.
"We see more youth patients during September and October for concerns including backpack-related discomfort, posture complaints from extended sitting, and activity-related injuries from the start of fall sports," said Judy Chiu, a Physiotherapist at PhysioLab in Vancouver. "Simple adjustments to backpack fit and load, combined with gradually increasing sport-specific activity rather than jumping into full-intensity play, can help reduce common issues during this transition. Early assessment can identify concerns before they become persistent problems affecting school participation or sport."
PhysioLab provides physiotherapy services for children, adolescents, and adults covering musculoskeletal assessment, posture evaluation, and activity-related rehabilitation at its Hastings clinic in East Vancouver. Appointments for assessment address posture concerns, activity-related injuries, and general musculoskeletal health through individualized care with same-week scheduling for new patients and direct billing for most extended health plans. Individualized treatment programs support patients from initial assessment through rehabilitation, addressing both acute concerns and longer-term movement health across all age groups and youth populations.
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For more information about Physiolab Hastings, contact the company here:
Physiolab Hastings
Contact Details:
(604) 901-3888
hastings@thephysiolab.ca
2105 E Hastings St, Vancouver, BC V5L 4L5
