Post by title1parent on Aug 11, 2011 6:03:50 GMT -5
Chiro One offers back-to-school tips on backpack safety
NaperSun
Last Modified: Aug 10, 2011 02:35AM
As the new school year approaches, parents and children planning their “back-to-school” lists are urged to keep backpack safety in mind.
“Each year, about 6,000 children in the United States experience backpack-related injuries,” says Dr. Emmy Wang, clinic director of Chiro One Wellness Center of Naperville, at 1304 Macom Drive.
To cut down on the number of these injuries, Wang and Chiro One Wellness Centers offer parents the following backpack safety advice:
1. Choose a lightweight backpack that doesn’t add too much to your child’s load. The pack should have two wide, padded shoulder straps and a padded back that will improve comfort and protect your child from being poked by the sharp points and edges of pencils, pens, rulers and other objects they need to carry.
2. Select the proper size backpack for your child. It should cover no more than three-quarters of the length of your child’s back.
3. Load backpacks carefully and pack lightly. The maximum weight of a loaded pack should not be more than 15 percent of a child’s body weight. Place the heaviest books closest to the back as they require the most body support. If a child has to lean forward to carry a pack, it’s too heavy.
4. Have your child wear the pack correctly. He or she should use both shoulder straps. Carrying a backpack on one shoulder puts too much strain on one side of the upper body. The straps should be snug but not too tight. If a backpack has a waist strap, use it to help better support the load and distribute the weight more evenly.
5. Get organized! Multiple compartments can help distribute weight more evenly.
6. Use a locker (if available) and don’t carry unnecessary items.
7. Squat down, bending at the knees, not at the waist, when lifting or lowering a heavy backpack.
8. Do back strengthening exercises to build up the muscles that support the spine.
Five warning signs a backpack is too heavy:
Change in posture when wearing the backpack.
Struggling when putting on or taking off the backpack.
Pain when wearing the backpack.
Red marks.
Tingling or numbness.
If you’re a parent, try one of the following tips:
Encourage your child to tell you about any pain or other symptoms he or she may be experiencing because of a heavy backpack and be on the alert for any outward signs of discomfort.
If your child mentions back or neck pain, pay attention and don’t ignore their complaints. If the pain persists, make an appointment with a doctor.
Although a backpack won’t cause scoliosis, it can disguise a spinal curve that might be developing. Onset most commonly takes place during the “growing years” of 9 to 15, so be sure that your child is screened regularly for the condition.
Lastly, if the homework load seems to be excessive, talk to your child’s teacher or school administrators and make sure that the school provides lockers and allows enough time for students to stop by their lockers throughout the day.
Courtesy of Chiro One Wellness Centers. Visit www.ChiroOne.net/locations.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright © 2011 — Sun-Times Media, LLC
NaperSun
Last Modified: Aug 10, 2011 02:35AM
As the new school year approaches, parents and children planning their “back-to-school” lists are urged to keep backpack safety in mind.
“Each year, about 6,000 children in the United States experience backpack-related injuries,” says Dr. Emmy Wang, clinic director of Chiro One Wellness Center of Naperville, at 1304 Macom Drive.
To cut down on the number of these injuries, Wang and Chiro One Wellness Centers offer parents the following backpack safety advice:
1. Choose a lightweight backpack that doesn’t add too much to your child’s load. The pack should have two wide, padded shoulder straps and a padded back that will improve comfort and protect your child from being poked by the sharp points and edges of pencils, pens, rulers and other objects they need to carry.
2. Select the proper size backpack for your child. It should cover no more than three-quarters of the length of your child’s back.
3. Load backpacks carefully and pack lightly. The maximum weight of a loaded pack should not be more than 15 percent of a child’s body weight. Place the heaviest books closest to the back as they require the most body support. If a child has to lean forward to carry a pack, it’s too heavy.
4. Have your child wear the pack correctly. He or she should use both shoulder straps. Carrying a backpack on one shoulder puts too much strain on one side of the upper body. The straps should be snug but not too tight. If a backpack has a waist strap, use it to help better support the load and distribute the weight more evenly.
5. Get organized! Multiple compartments can help distribute weight more evenly.
6. Use a locker (if available) and don’t carry unnecessary items.
7. Squat down, bending at the knees, not at the waist, when lifting or lowering a heavy backpack.
8. Do back strengthening exercises to build up the muscles that support the spine.
Five warning signs a backpack is too heavy:
Change in posture when wearing the backpack.
Struggling when putting on or taking off the backpack.
Pain when wearing the backpack.
Red marks.
Tingling or numbness.
If you’re a parent, try one of the following tips:
Encourage your child to tell you about any pain or other symptoms he or she may be experiencing because of a heavy backpack and be on the alert for any outward signs of discomfort.
If your child mentions back or neck pain, pay attention and don’t ignore their complaints. If the pain persists, make an appointment with a doctor.
Although a backpack won’t cause scoliosis, it can disguise a spinal curve that might be developing. Onset most commonly takes place during the “growing years” of 9 to 15, so be sure that your child is screened regularly for the condition.
Lastly, if the homework load seems to be excessive, talk to your child’s teacher or school administrators and make sure that the school provides lockers and allows enough time for students to stop by their lockers throughout the day.
Courtesy of Chiro One Wellness Centers. Visit www.ChiroOne.net/locations.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright © 2011 — Sun-Times Media, LLC