Chiropractors Warn About The Dangers Of Heavy Backpacks
Whether your young child is in school, or you yourself are spending a lot of time on campus, you should be aware of the dangers that carrying a backpack that is just too heavy can bring. While younger children are most at risk for injuries and chronic discomfort related to carrying backpacks, anyone who carries a backpack for long periods of time may be subjected to backpack-related injuries and pain.
How And Why Do Backpacks Cause Pain And Injuries?
Usually, it’s the poor construction of a backpack that creates so many of its issues. If the shoulder straps aren’t wide enough, the weight in the bag isn’t being supported properly. Similarly, many backpacks just don’t disperse the weight they carry evenly enough, which can very easily lead to misalignment issues in the spinal column. If the backpack itself is very heavy, it’s just adding to the problem of too much weight on a person’s shoulders. All of these factors can lead to repetitive strain that can often cause numbness in the hands and arms, headaches, and of course, back pain.
How Can Chiropractic Care Treat These Issues?
Since back pain caused by heavy backpacks is such a common issue, chiropractors are no strangers to treating those who have been negatively affected by the repetitive strain of overburdened backpacks. A chiropractor will inspect your spinal column to see where there are any cases of a misaligned vertebra, known as a subluxation, in your spine. These subluxations can be major contributing factors to chronic back pain, as misalignments create interference in the nervous system, which causes inflammation and swelling in the joints, as well as muscle degeneration. Chiropractic treatments work to gently reposition your spinal column to its proper alignment position, which will in turn help your body recover from the constant strain and stress it was experiencing from themisaligned vertebra.
How Can You Treat These Issues At Home?
In addition to seeing a chiropractor on a regular basis for treatment and care, there are some steps you can take at home to prevent the pain and discomfort from returning after treatment sessions. First, do not use a messenger bag, since it only allows you to carry all the weight on one side of yourbody. Be sure to look for a backpack with individualized compartments to help you disperse the weight more evenly within the bag. Try your best to create a smooth surface facing you or your child’s back; keep pointy or bulky objects from poking out into the back. Adjust the shoulder straps so they fit the best that they can, and make sure that you or your child uses both shoulder straps at all times.