What Is Causing Your Child's Back Pain?

How many times have you picked up your child's backpack from the ground, surprised at how heavy it was? No wonder they're so heavy with all the school supplies and books. As your child carries these heavy bags around all day long, these items add up quickly, weighing between twenty and fifty pounds each! So, could your child's back pain be due to their heavy backpack? Find out how heavy backpacks can cause spinal misalignments and strain children's backs.

HEAVY BACKPACKS CAN CAUSE SPINAL MISALIGNMENTS

During the past few years, chiropractors have seen an increase in complaints about back pain, neck pain, and shoulder pain among students. Since a heavy bag pulls bones, ligaments, and muscles downward, children can suffer from back problems, such as spinal misalignments. Pain, fatigue, and other side effects can result from spinal misalignments. Without proper treatment, there can be long-term pain and side effects.

DOES YOUR CHILD’S BACK PAIN HAVE A SOLUTION?

The first step is educating your child about how to use a backpack. Most kids make this problem worse by wearing their backpacks over one shoulder. It was intended for the backpack to fit snugly over both shoulders rather than being loose on one. It is important to keep the backpack straps tight, so the backpack doesn't hang low.

Additionally, you can reduce the weight of the bag by limiting supplies. The ideal backpack weight should not exceed 10% of the person's body weight. A child can use a rolling backpack as an alternative to carrying a heavy backpack.

HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH EXISTING PROBLEMS?

Apart from adjusting how the backpack is worn, you may want to consult a chiropractor. Regular chiropractic adjustments can help repair damage caused by heavy bags and even prevent future damage. Schedule a consultation today at Wills Chiropractic and let us relieve your child's back pain and correct any spinal misalignments they may have.