Back-To-School Back Health WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB) — Students are packing their bags and heading back to school. And Dr. Filomena Larocca of Baystate Family Chiropractic is preparing for an influx of patients. “We see the difference from the summer time, versus school time — it’s extremely different,” says Larocca. The culprit? Backpacks. Dr. Larocca says there are many wrong ways to wear one: Wearing a backpack too low can put stress on the shoulders. Thin straps can dig into the shoulders, causing pain. Wearing one strap can affect posture, putting stress on the spine. But the biggest problem is too many books. The bag should never weigh more than 10 percent of your child’s body weight. It’s also important to distribute that weight the right way. “The larger books and folders are going to go closest to the back and that will help to keep the weight closer to the torso,” says Larocca. When students unload their bags and start pecking away at those papers, watch their posture! A poorly-designed work space and also lead to spinal problems. “We want to make sure we can put an ergonomic pillow behind the child’s back if they’re too small to go ahead and fit into the chair — the best thing is to go ahead and get a chair that actually fits them,” says Larocca. She adds, “We want the eye level to be right, straight across or just a little bit below, and we want their wrists to be able to rest nice and neutral, and at least a 90 to 130 degree angle in their elbow.” For more tips on back-to-school back health, head to MassChiro.org.
Posted on: Fri, 22 Aug 2014 15:34:33 +0000
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