Parents and educators everywhere are concerned about the burdens children are lugging around each day in the form of poorly designed, improperly packed, and inappropriately worn backpacks.
This phenomenon has also become a major focus of chiropractors who have recognized that early childhood back stress is a major cause of spinal instability and nerve-related health problems.
Unfortunately, these injuries can lay dormant for years, only to express themselves as serious spinal problems in adults. According to a study in Spine, signs of spinal disc degeneration appeared on MRI scans of approximately one-third of the 13-year-old children who were studied, even though only some of them were experiencing back pain. In another study, published in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research, 96 percent of the children examined were found to have pelvic subluxations. The spinal degenerative arthritis that results from subluxations are one of the most common preventable diseases affecting society today â?? but prevention must start at an early age.
In response to parent concerns, some state lawmakers are looking at mandating maximum backpack weight, redesigning text books and even purchasing an extra set of books for each child to use at home. Rather than wait for new laws to be passed, every parent and child should take the responsibility to increase their knowledge on backpack safety, so they can use good lifting and body awareness techniques and prevent unnecessary injuries. This will also ensure that children keep their spines and nerve systems healthy as they grow.
Here are some important Backpack Safety Tips you can begin using immediately:
–If possible, use a backpack with wheels, and roll it
–Otherwise, use a backpack with padded shoulder straps and lumbar support, and wear both shoulder straps
–Pack only what you need and place heavy items on the bottom
–Bend at the knees when lifting the backpack
–Never lift more than 15 percent of your body weight:
If your body weighs: You may carry up to:
50 pounds 7.5 pounds
70 pounds 10.5 pounds
80 pounds 12 pounds
100 pounds 15 pounds
120 pounds 18 pounds
Chart provided by Backpack Safety America
Make backpack safety and spinal health a priority. Invest in a quality backpack, use it properly, and make an appointment for your children to receive a spinal examination today.
DR. GREGG D. RUBINSTEIN has a chiropractor practice on West 57TH Street, NYC. He can be reached at (212) 977-7094; www.57thstreetchiropractor.com.
