Chiropractic Info On Neck Problems

Dr. Michael Jones: Is your child's backpack too heavy?

Chiropractors and pediatricians agree backpacks are a problem for a child's spine.

It is usually not the backpack by itself that causes the issues, but rather the improper carrying of the bag as well as overloading that can lead to headaches and neck, shoulder and lower-back pain. 

According to a 2003 article published in Spine,"Of the 1,122 recorded backpack users, 74 percent were classified as having back pain, validated by significantly poorer general health, more limited physical function and more bodily pain." 

The question that arises with backpacks is how heavy is too heavy?  Any amount of weight greater than 10 percent of a child's body weight risks the introduction of back and neck pain, and carrying more than 15 percent of their bodyweight poses serious risks of severe back, neck and shoulder pain, headaches or other spinal pains. Too heavy of a load can also aggravate preexisting spinal conditions, such as sports injuries or scoliosis.

So a 60-pound child should carry no more than 9 pounds; an 80-pound child no more than 12 pounds; and a 100-pound child no more than 15 pounds.

To help prevent pain or injury, find a bag with wide, padded, adjustable straps to allow it to fit any sized child. You also want to make sure that the backpack fits your child properly, not being too short or too long. 

Another option is to find a backpack with a hip strap or a lumbar support. The hip strap can distribute a portion of the weight to the hips, lessening the load on the spine and shoulders. The lumbar support will provide support to the lower back, where the greatest portion of the weight is being carried.  Consider this: The more support features provided on the bag you purchase, the less spinal stress your child will carry.

As a responsible parent, there are things you can do to help your child. First, every Sunday, empty out your child's bag and review what he or she has inside. You will be shocked at the things they accumulate over the course of the week.

Bring order to the files. » When to Seek Chiropractic Treatment

For those who have musculoskeletal conditions, you may want to visit a chiropractic doctor that will help you take care of the disorder and pain. For those who have these conditions, maybe it s time and energy to seek chiropractic care treatment:

1) Headaches – There are lots of forms of headaches. Several of the common headaches are migraines, tension headaches, cluster headaches, and those headaches that produced by a neck issue.Additional info at chiropractic coaching 6) Fibromyalgia – This is the hard diagnosis to deal with as one treatment may are very effective for one patient but might not work for some. Patients that suffer from fibromyalgia might be able to bear spinal decompression or adjustments, massage, but others is probably not able to perform so. Chiropractic treatment can work but it needs to be personalized. 7) Failed back surgery syndrome – This happens when back surgeries are not able to produce great results. Sometimes, back surgery is only able to eradicate half of the wanted pain. So if when this happens an additional surgery isn’t the smartest choice, chiropractic care could help. Knee pain – When you are experiencing knee pain and you are considering surgery, you could need physical rehabilitation or rehabilitation first and other chiropractic treatments.

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