September is here! With the summer coming to an end, and school beginning again we know that everyone is very busy. If your schedule and appointment times need to change, please remember to call our office early to modify your appointment. Please do not reply to our appointment reminder emails, as we do not receive those responses. 

You may notice the donation jar at our front desk that says “Hike, Bike and Bark for Hospice”. As you may already know, our team is participating in this fundraiser for the Northumberland Hospice (Ed’s House), which is done virtually and concludes on September 10th, 2022. If you are interested and able to support our team, we would greatly appreciate it! 

Two big anniversaries this month: Dr Johnston has been here for seven years and she has signed on for the next 52 years.  Karen has been with us for THIRTY YEARS, and we are hoping she signs on for another ten, at least!


In the Johnston-Tannahill household, backpack use has been a hot topic, as Alexandria, Dr. Johnston’s eldest daughter is starting junior kindergarten this year. Teaching your child how to use their backpack properly is key- it will help them to avoid injury and set good habits for life. Below are a few tips for proper backpack use:

  1. WEIGHT – a heavy, uneven load can result in poor posture or affect the alignment of your spine. 
  2. BACKPACK CHOICE – a backpack with two wide, adjustable, padded shoulder straps and a padded back are the best choice. Bonus points for plenty of pockets and a hip or waist strap to use for longer carries and heavier loads. 
  3. PACKING – an even distribution of weight, as well as ensuring that the pack only contains what your child needs for the day is important. The pack shouldn’t weigh more than 10-15% of your child’s body weight.
  4. PUTTING IT ON – often, kids swing the backpack up onto their body to put it on. Put the pack on a flat surface, at waist height. Slip the pack on one shoulder at a time. 
  5. WEARING IT – make sure that your child uses both shoulder straps and is adjusted to fit snugly to their body. You should be able to slide your hand between the backpack and your child’s back. 

More than 50 per cent of young people experience at least one episode of low back pain by their teenage years. Research indicates one cause is improper use of backpacks, so get ahead of this statistic with these tips!    As chiropractors, we are here to check your child’s spine and we are happy to check their backpack!