PEARL RIVER, N.Y., Sept. 07, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pearl River Chiropractor Askenas Chiropractic would like to remind parents in the community to be aware of their school-age children’s back and spine health. They are putting out this call for safety just ahead of School Backpack Awareness Day, which is September 20.
It’s a parent’s responsibility to watch out for their child’s back health, as children are often not yet aware enough to do so on their own. There are some key things that parents can do to improve their child’s posture and spine health, including being aware of backpack weight limits and wearing backpacks correctly and ergonomically.
Overloading backpacks or wearing them improperly can lead to injury and chronic pain. Over time, this can cause poor posture and even permanent disfiguration. The most common effect of heavy backpacks is an unnatural hyperextension or arching of the back in an attempt to compensate for its weight or awkward placement on the spine. The back, neck, shoulder, and rib areas can all become stressed, leading to alignment issues and other injuries.
When selecting a backpack, its width should not be wider than the child’s torso. Shoulder straps should be a minimum of two inches wide and there should also be a waist strap for added support. Rolling backpacks that do not have to be carried on the back are another possible solution, however many schools prohibit them and their bulkiness can present other challenges to young students.
Children should be assisted in adjusting backpack straps properly so that they can carry the weight in a balanced manner. It’s extremely important that the straps ride high on the shoulders so the weight is dispersed better. Backpacks should never be carried over just one shoulder. Ideally, the weight of the backpack should never exceed 10 percent of the child’s total body weight either. Also, a child should not “sling” it over their shoulders with a big twisting motion but rather lift close to body and put on slowly and correctly.
If a child does become injured due to using a backpack incorrectly, a chiropractor can assist with injury treatment, alignment, and posture correction. Yes- children can have back pain like adults so please do not ignore their complaints! Get them evaluated and help correct the injury.
Dr. Todd Askenas, DC, says, “At Askenas Chiropractic, we care about your child’s back and spine health. Be sure to practice proper backpack safety this year, and bring your child into our Pearl River chiropractic office if they sustain a back injury.”
About Askenas Chiropractic
Askenas Chiropractic is located in Pearl River, New York on South Main Street between Franklin and Jefferson Avenues. Questions for the Pearl River chiropractor or to book an appointment you may call (845) 735-3737. Additional information is available at http://askenaschiropractic.com/.