Protect your kids from heavy backpack injuries

Novocur is a paid advertiser of Sonoran Living Live

Protect Your Kids from Heavy Backpack Injuries
Our Valley's kids are all back to school and have you noticed how big their backpacks are? I actually weighed my son's backpack the other day and it weighed 40 pounds! His backpack is huge considering he only weighs 98 pounds. His loaded backpack weighs almost 40% of his body weight -too much - and that can lead to serious health problems.

Moms should also take this opportunity to take a look at their heavy purses. The more stylish and expensive the purse, the heavier the material and thus the purse before you even put one item in it (this is before the fancy buckles, chains, studs and other embellishments). When is last time you took an inventory of your purse's contents to evaluate what is actually essential or not? I looked at my own wife's purse contents and it reminded me of Turkish bazaar.  I understand the cell phone, keys, wallet and lipstick, but do you really need the bottle of hand lotion, a complete make-up kit, collection of perfumes, a kindle, iPad and tennis shoes for the gym? If you absolutely need all these items, then you better think about a stylish, designer back brace as well. These heavy bags and your kids' heavy backpacks are major sources of chronic pain.

What Kind of Health Problems?
Over 20 studies have illustrated that heavy backpacks and purses can cause chronic neck, shoulder and back problems. Pain Management Doctors have even coined a new term called "rucksack syndrome", where the straps from a heavy backpack or purse can compress the nerves or arteries in the shoulder causing arm pain or numbness! Heavy backpacks in kids can even lead to scoliosis, which is a permanent curvature of the spine. Some studies also show a correlation to heart and lung problems!

What Can I Do to Help My Child and Myself?
Rolling backpacks would be the obvious answer, but most kids wouldn't be caught dead rolling a backpack through the halls at school - that's just not cool! In lieu of that solution, let's concentrate on realistic solutions:
·    Make sure your child's backpack is not too large and properly fit to his body using the adjustable straps. The backpack should not droop down past his/her waist and should be worn as high on their back as possible.
·    Always wear the backpack using both straps to evenly distribute the weight
·    Use the waist and/or chest straps to take help distribute the weight
·    The weight of the backpack should be no more than 10-15% of your child's body weight.
·    Women should lose the Turkish bazaar in their purse and switch the shoulder you wear the bag on frequently!

Novocur Can Help!
Pain that has persisted for more than 6 weeks or has not been helped by physical therapy or chiropractic adjustments should be evaluated by one of our Pain Fellowship trained doctors at Novocur. Ignoring chronic pain will not make it go away, but know there are simple solutions in most cases to rapidly reduce or eliminate your pain!

Novocur Pain Management Clinics
2 Valley Locations
480.855.6686 (NOVO)
www.Novocur.com

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Novocur is a paid advertiser of Sonoran Living Live