Buying the appropriate backpack
Have you noticed a change in your child’s posture? Does your child have to lean forward in-order so he or she does not fall backwards? Has your child been complaining of neck, headaches, upper back, mid back, shoulder and/or low back pain? Is your child struggling to pay attention in school, to sleep or to playing sports? If yes to any of the above questions, then it could be due to improper fit and/or weight of backpacks and/or your child needs chiropractic health care.
Backpack recommendations
Here are some back to school tips from a chiropractor in Longmont, Colorado on how to buy a proper backpack for your child. One, make sure the backpack is not too big or too small for the child. This requires you to measure their torso area i.e. bottom of neck to hips. Two, make sure the backpack has a wide enough shoulder strap that is about 3 inches wide. Three, make sure the shoulder strap has a chest clip/strap too. This helps remove pressure on shoulders and distributes the weight properly. Four, make sure it has a hip belt and the child uses it. This will remove almost all the weight off the shoulders and place it onto the hips which are designed to handle more weight. Having these straps and properly using the straps will help them long term with spinal care.
Even when the backpack has all the straps, there are still risks to long term spinal care. Making sure the backpack is not too heavy is the next step. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that the backpack weight should not exceed 10-20% of the child’s weight and some others recommend between 5-10% of child’s weight. Also making sure the backpack is packed correctly is helpful. This means the heavier things like laptops, text books and so on are closer to the child’s torso/body and the light things like pens, pencils and so on are in the smaller, outer most pockets.
Long term health effects of incorrect backpack
If you are seeing these changes or hear these complaints listed above in your children, then chiropractic care can help. At Shimer Chiropractic, we are here to help you and your family reach their chiropractic health care needs. So we are offering a complimentary 15 minute consultation to discuss your health concurs and our office is located in Longmont, Colorado.
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Shimer Chiropractic, PC will always accept new patients
Dr. Wendy Shimer, DC is a Chiropractor in Longmont, Colorado. Dr. Shimer’s main focus is to get you up and running and back on your feet as soon as she can. We always give a 15 minute complimentary consultation if you’re not quite sure and to make sure chiropractic care is a good fit for your health needs. You can contact us at 720-340-4107 or stop by the office at 2330 North Main Street Suite A Longmont, Colorado 80501.
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