It's Fall... backpacks!

It’s FALL!!!!

So many great things happen during this time of the year. Everyone gets so excited about the cooler weather, football, roasted marshmallows…I could go on for pages.  I personally get excited about Halloween (mostly because of the candy corn) and Spinal Health Month. Many years ago, the American Chiropractic Association implemented this event bringing awareness to a natural approach to overall health and wellness as well as preventing back pain.

Back pain is pervasive among American adults, but a new and disturbing trend is emerging among the nation’s youth. Young children are suffering from back pain much earlier than previous generations, and the use of overweight backpacks and poorly designed computer workstations is a contributing factor.

The increase in back pain among youngsters isn’t surprising when you consider the disproportionate amounts of weight they carry in their backpacks – often slung over just one shoulder – and the long hours they spend tapping away at computer keyboards. These activities can negatively impact a child’s body during the developing years, resulting in harmful physical effects that can last a lifetime.

Watch Those Backpacks:

• Make sure your child’s backpack weighs no more than 5 to 10 percent of his or her body weight. A heavier backpack will cause your child to bend forward in an attempt to support the weight on his or her back, rather than on the shoulders, by the straps.

• The backpack should never hang more than four inches below the waistline. A backpack that hangs too low increases the weight on the shoulders, causing your child to lean forward when walking.

But what about HEALTH?

Your spine is your lifeline! You are healthy through your nervous system being strong.  Just as it is important to have your teeth checked or to have a yearly physical to be proactive in your health, it is vital to have your spine checked regularly.