Labelle Chiropractic Clinic

With the start of a new school year, kids of all ages will be gathering before, during and after school to compete in a variety of sports and physical activities.  Football, cheerleading, soccer, hockey, gymnastics and in recent years what was once a winter indoor sport but has now become a year-round phenomenon, basketball, will all be pursued with vigor and enthusiasm as kids get back together at school. From the most junior recreation leagues and school programs to informal “pick-up” games in the parks and playgrounds, indoor and outdoor athletics are a significant part of how young people spend their recreation time.

This is a wonderfully healthy trend, and even better if parents help by making sure that basic rules of safety and injury prevention are applied.  Doctors of chiropractic everywhere encourage increased physical activity among people of all ages as part of an effective program of maintaining health and vitality the natural way. This is especially true in light of so many recent reports citing inactivity and childhood obesity among the world’s most alarming health trends.

The following guidelines will help coaches, parents and young athletes enjoy safe and healthy sports activities, whether competitive or recreational.

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  A Few Facts about Children and Backpacks

• The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that backpack-related injuries sent more than 7,000 people to the emergency room in 2001 alone.

• 60% of orthopedists reported seeing child patients for pain caused by backpacks (American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, 1999).

• Over 75% of adolescents aged 12 to 18 suffer from some form of back pain, and the weight of their backpack has been identified as a leading contributor to this increased pain (Sheir-Ness et al.  The association of backpack use and back pain.  Spine 28(9): 992-30: May 03)

• According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, there has been over a 300 percent increase in backpack-related injuries among schoolchildren over the last ten years.

• Research by the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation found that students carrying backpacks weighing 25 percent of their body weight had balance problems and were unable to perform normal activities such as climbing stairs and opening doors. Conversely, students who wore backpacks weighing 15 percent of their body weight maintained balance moderately. (International Chiropractic Pediatric Association)

• A study of Italian schoolchildren showed over one-third carried more than 30% of their body weight at least once a week, exceeding limits proposed for adults. (Negrini, Carabalona and Sibilla. Backpack as a daily load for schoolchildren. Lancet 1999: 354 (9194) Dec 1974)

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Parents and kids can follow these guidelines to maximize safety, comfort and proper backpack use:

Choose the right kind of backpack:

• Well-padded back, for comfort and to prevent objects from digging into the back.
• Well-padded and contoured shoulder straps.
• Numerous pockets and compartments to keep things from shifting around.
• A waist strap to distribute weight onto hips and off of the spine and shoulders.
• Lightweight material construction (canvas bags are lighter than leather bags).
• Make sure the pack is the right size!  Backpacks should not extend higher than shoulder level and not lower than 4 inches below the waist.

Make sure the backpack is packed correctly:

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Kid’s think it’s “cool” to strap on their backpacks and head out to school.  But if they don’t know exactly how to choose, load, lift and wear them - these all-important accessories can be a pain in the back.  Literally.  Not to mention the neck, head, and shoulders. You can browse the Ontario Chiropractic Associations […]

Scoliosis is tragic. It causes both physical pain and emotional suffering. This sideways bending of the spine shows up as abnormal posture and then finally, deformity. If allowed to advance, it can interfere with the lungs, heart and many other vital organs. There is hope.

Scoliosis affects boys and more frequently, girls between the ages of 8 to 18. The cause varies. Some are born with this spinal deviation (congenital). Others get it from assuming a distorted head or hip position (habitual). Sadly, in many cases the cause is still unknown.

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