Watch Your Back! Backpacks worn improperly or too heavy could cause injury
As the new school year approaches, parents and children planning their "back-to-school" lists are urged to keep backpack safety in mind. A backpack can be a great help to school children, but it needs to fit properly to avoid a lifetime of hurt, Chiro One Wellness Centers says.
“If too heavy or worn incorrectly, backpacks can strain muscles and joints and cause serious back pain,” says Dr. Kristen Van De Carr, Clinic Director of Chiro One Wellness Center of Bloomingdale.
Backpack-related injuries resulted in 7,300 emergency room visits in 2006, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Chiro One Wellness Centers advises everyone especially the forty million teens who carry backpacks to school to carry no more than ten to fifteen percent of their body weight in backpacks. Avoid back pain and back injury by following these suggestions:
· Organize. Pack heavier items closest to the back. Pack items in compartments so the weight is evenly distributed.
· Select packs with heavily padded shoulder straps and lumbar support.
· Use both shoulder straps to distribute weight evenly across the back unless it is a one-shoulder pack.
· Tighten the straps to keep the backpack close to the body. Make sure the backpack does not extend below the lower back.
· Squat down, bending at the knees, not at the waist, when lifting or lowering a heavy backpack.
· Carry only what's needed.
Get-Your-Back-To-School! Chiro One Wellness Centers is offering discounted spinal wellness exams along with tips on buying the right backpack in August at all locations in Chicagoland to raise awareness for the importance of backpack safety and spinal health. To make a reservation at a Chiro One near you, call (877) 724-4761. For more information, visit http://www.ChiroOne.net/events.
About Chiro One Wellness Centers
Chiro One Wellness Centers serves Chicagoland, Kentucky and Texas with 63 convenient locations. Their Vision, “That every human being discovers their full potential.” Their Mission: Being leaders in developing extraordinary wellness for families and individuals by taking a stand for the well being of their communities through education and service. Follow Chiro One on Facebook by visiting http://www.Facebook.com/ChiroOne.