Backpacks and chiropractic care
Does your child carry a backpack to school? Do you know the proper way to wear a backpack?Did you know that improper use of backpacks may cause problems that could be detrimental to your child’s health?Heavy backpacks have a destructive impact on the posture and spinal health of children.These heavy loads can cause injuries that last a lifetime. Researchers have found that 55 percent of students carry more weight than recommended in national guidelines causing 60 percent of children to experience back or shoulder pain by the time they are 18 years old.What does chiropractic have to do with all this? Improper use of backpacks causes undue stress on the spine. This stress causes subluxation of the spine. Subluxation occurs when the spinal bones, or vertebra, shift out of place.In between these bones are nerves that transport important messages from the brain to every organ, tissue and cell in our body. When subluxation occurs, these nerves become irritated and messages get jumbled up or are absent altogether. Therefore the body is not functioning at 100 percent and will not be able to heal itself on its own.Unfortunately, subluxation is “silent” in that symptoms may not appear until years or decades have passed, much like a cavity in a tooth. At which point, permanent damage may have occurred.
Scoliosis, a curvature of the spine, can go undetected as well. It often begins in childhood as the body is still growing. If detected early by a doctor of chiropractic, adjustments and exercises can be utilized to correct or prevent it from worsening over time. Changes in posture, loss of structural balance and growing pains can be an early warning signal.
For that reason, periodic spinal check-ups, like dental check-ups, are necessary to keep your child healthy. Chiropractic is the only profession in the world specially trained in the detection and elimination of subluxation of the spine.Overloaded backpacks put unnecessary stress on a growing spine, ultimately leading to significant injury over time.Here are some tips for proper backpack use:
n Choose an appropriate size corresponding to your child’s body size.
n The maximum weight of a loaded backpack should not exceed 15 percent of the child’s body weight (i.e.- a 60-pound child should only carry nine pounds of backpack weight).
n Teach your children proper lifting techniques
a) Face the packb) Bend at the knees
c) Use both hands to lift
d) Check the weight of the pack, adjust if necessary
e) Lift with the legs
f) Apply one shoulder strap at a time
Use both shoulders straps, they should be snug but not too tight, also use the waist strap if available.
If the backpack causes the child to lean forward, the pack is too heavy. Do not wear the pack over one shoulder.This may cause permanent misalignment of the spine, muscle fatigue and a lowered state of health.
Posture is the window to the spine.If posture is misaligned, the spine is also misaligned on the inside. To check your child’s posture look at your child from the back, have him or her close their eyes. Check to see if the ears, shoulders, and hips are level. If one side is higher, there is a curve in the spine.This may cause pressure on the nerves, joints and discs. Next, observe your child from the side.The ears, shoulders, hips and knees should line up in a straight line. If not, there is stress on the spine. Then, check your child’s posture while wearing the backpack. His or her posture should not change.If you see signs of posture imbalance or your child complains of pain, visit your Chiropractic Physician.
You or your family may be suffering from undetected spinal subluxation or scoliosis, so call your chiropractor for a periodic spinal check-up. Millions of families have discovered the health benefits of chiropractic, shouldn’t you?
For a complimentary consultation or if you have any questions, please call Dr. Nicole Bennett at 463-1640