SAN ANTONIO, Sept. 6, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As the new school year starts, San Antonio chiropractor, Dr. Donald Phillips of Dr. Phillips Chiropractic, Nutrition and Wellness wants to stress the importance of backpack safety for students. Children who are consistently carrying too much backpack weight can suffer from chronic back, neck, and shoulder pain. Most of this pain is as a result of the loads they are carrying every day according to Dr. Phillips, but some pain can result from how they are wearing their backpacks too. Dr. Phillips believes this is pain that can be largely avoided through proper education.
Dr. Phillips of Dr. Phillips Chiropractic, Nutrition and Wellness in San Antonio, Texas, wants to take the opportunity while parents are preparing for the school year ahead to remind them of the need pay attention to the types of backpacks they're buying for their children as well as how much weight they're putting into them.
"There are over 5,000 emergency room visits each year for backpack related injuries," says Dr. Phillips. He goes on to indicate that most of these injuries can be avoided if parents make a few changes to the way they view and pack their children's backpacks.
Dr. Phillips suggests that parents purchase two-strap backpacks, without padded straps. Backpacks should fit snugly against the child's back and both straps need to be worn so that the weight of the pack is evenly distributed. He recommends against popular choices like rolling backpacks and messenger bags and suggests that parents choose quality backpacks with a rigid frame and a padded back.
As for loading backpacks, Dr. Phillips recommends that parents never allow children to carry more than 10 to 15 percent of their own body weight in their backpacks. When it comes to weight distribution, heavier items should be placed to fit closest to the child's back.
While it's important to choose proper backpacks and avoid overloading them in order to prevent injuries, parents should take complaints from children about discomfort, seriously. "Pain, particularly in the shoulders, neck, and back, indicate that there's something wrong with either the weight or the fit of the backpack," says Dr. Phillips. "These complaints, if unaddressed, could lead to long-term back pain for children."
Dr. Phillips suggests that parents contact Dr. Phillips Chiropractic, Nutrition and Wellness with any questions or concerns they may have about backpack safety. He also recommends that parents schedule an appointment to learn more about the benefits of chiropractic adjustments to help keep their children healthy.
About Dr. Phillips Chiropractic, Nutrition and Wellness
Located on North Loop 1604 East in San Antonio, Texas, Dr. Phillips Chiropractic, Nutrition and Wellness offers a wide range of chiropractic health services to area residents. Other services available include: nutritional counseling, lifestyle advice, physiotherapy, corrective exercises, cold laser therapy, massage therapy and non-surgical spinal decompression.
http://www.everydayhealth.com/hs/back-to-school/backpack-causing-chronic-back-pain/