School Can Be Hazardous to Your Health -- Watch Those Backpacks and Computers
Dr. Matthew Hamilton of Maximum Potential Chiropractic explains why kids wearing backpacks to school coupled with poorly designed computer workstations in most of today's school facilities are leading to young children suffering from back pain much earlier than previous generations.
Medina, OH (PRWEB) November 9, 2007
Dr. Matthew Hamilton of Maximum Potential Chiropractic explains why kids wearing backpacks to school coupled with poorly designed computer workstations in most of today's school facilities are leading to young children suffering from back pain much earlier than previous generations.
School Can Be Hazardous to Your Health - Watch Those Backpacks and Computers
"Mention the word 'chiropractic' or 'chiropractor' to someone and the visual usually elicited is one of the adult suffering back pain from a variety of life events and lifestyle stressors," says Dr. Matthew Hamilton of Maximum Potential Chiropractic.
The association is no surprise when 80 percent of Americans will suffer back pain some time during their life and 50 percent of us will suffer from back pain this year, according to statistics from the American Chiropractic Association (ACA).
"A new picture is emerging however," adds Dr. Hamilton. "The Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that 7,300 injuries were treated in U. S. emergency rooms in 2006 because of backpacks."
"As much as we might wish, our children are not immune to back pain," states Dr. Matt, as he is known to the Maximum Potential family. "And," he adds, "Approximately 40 million American children carry backpacks."
According to the ACA's Council on Occupational Health, a recent study conducted in Italy found that the average child carries a backpack that would be the equivalent of a 39-pound burden for a 176-pound man or a 29-pound load for a 132-pound woman. It is recommended that children carry no more than 5 to 10 percent of their body weight in a backpack -- 5-10 pounds for a 100-pound child. Of those children carrying heavy backpacks to school, 60 percent had experienced back pain as a result. Other studies have shown that slinging a backpack over one shoulder can exacerbate the curvature of the spine in scoliosis patients.
Add poorly designed computer workstations to the mix, and we see young children suffering from back pain much earlier than previous generations.
Dr. Matt has several recommendations for parents:
Make sure your child's backpack weighs no more than 5 to 10 percent of his or her body weight. Check the positioning of the backpack. It should hang no more than four inches below the waistline. Make sure that pointy of bulky objects are packed away from the area that will rest on your child's back. A backpack with individualized compartments helps in positioning the contents more effectively. Urge your child to wear both shoulder straps, and wide, padded straps are very important. Make certain that the home computer workstation can be modified for each child's use. Position the monitor so the top of the screen is at or below the child's eye level. Ensure the chair at the workstation fits the child correctly. There should be two inches between the front edge of the seat and the back of the knees. The chair should have arm supports so that elbows are resting within a 70-135-degree angle to the computer keyboard. Wrists should be held in a neutral position while typing -- not angled up or down. Limit your child's time at the computer and make sure he or she takes periodic stretch breaks during computer time.
"If your child continues to complain of pain and strain from a heavy backpack or from sitting at a computer, see a doctor of chiropractic," urges Dr. Hamilton. "A doctor of chiropractic can help alleviate your child's pain and help prevent further injury."
For the months of November and December 2007, Maximum Potential Chiropractic is offering new patients a health history and consultation, an orthopedic and neurologic exam, x-rays (if needed) and a report of findings for only $20. For an appointment call Maximum Potential Chiropractic at 330-723-1441. The office is located at 215 W, Liberty St. in Medina. See them on the web at www. mpchiro. com.
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