Thrive Chiropractic Wellness Center, Milton GA
15800 Birmingham Hwy
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Milton, GA

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Is your backpack breaking your back?

8/1/2019

4 Comments

 
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It’s that time of year again where school busses are on the road and school supplies are on discount (because who really has enough pens?). It’s also the time to pick out your child’s backpack. Using backpacks is an efficient means to carry a number of books and items in a practical way by distributing the heavy load across a strong back and shoulder muscles. However, improper use can lead to spinal dysfunctional movement, poor posture and down the road, pain.
 
The biggest risk is overloading. A study in Spine Journal found that the weight of backpacks significantly affected the rate of low back pain in children. According to the study, carrying an overloaded backpack frequently caused compression of spinal discs in the lower spine. They concluded that a large portion of low back pain suffers presented changes in the lumbar spine with MRI scans. The distortion of the natural spinal curvatures in the middle and lower backs, as well as the ribcage leads to pain. Over time this causes forward rounding of the shoulders and an anterior (forward) head posture. This pulls the neck muscles and contributes to headaches, shoulder pain, low back pain and arm pain. Although not fully researched yet, the regularly recommended weight should be around 10-15% of the child’s body weight. So your 100-pound child’s backpack should be between 10-15 pounds.
 
Habitually carrying backpacks over one shoulder cause muscles to strain and compensate for the uneven weight (also talking to you Mom’s with an overfilled tote). The spine will lean to the opposite side and stresses the middle back, low back and ribcage asymmetrically. This type of muscle imbalance will cause muscle strain, muscle spasms and back pain in the short term. Long term effects will cause posture issues and a speedy development of back problems later in life if not corrected.
 
In 2013, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission cited 5,415 backpack-related injuries treated in the emergency room.  Spine Journal reported over 60% of adolescents between 6 and 19 years old have reported their backpack has caused back pain. There is little chance there will be permanent damage caused from carrying a heavy backpack, but can set your child off on a dysfunctional postural course leading to spinal issues later in life. Set your child up for success this school year with a light and even distributed backpack. The American Chiropractic Association lists a few things to consider:
 
  • Is the backpack the correct size for your child?
  • Does the backpack have padded shoulder straps for comfort?
  • Are the shoulder straps adjustable?
  • Does your child use both straps?
  • Does the backpack have a padded back?
  • Does the backpack have compartments to keep items in place?
 
References:
  1. Neuschwander T, Cutrone J, Macias B, et el. The effect of backpacks on the lumbar spine in children a standing magnetic resonance image study. Spine 35(1):83-8. 2009.
  2. Aprile I, Di Stasion E, Vincenzi M, et el.  The relationship between back pain and schoolbag use: a cross-sectional study of 5,318 Italian students. Spine 16(6):748-55. 2016.

4 Comments

Why see a Pediatric Chiropractor?

8/28/2012

0 Comments

 
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It is extremely scary to see and realize what kids in today’s world are up against.  Illnesses and diagnoses that were very rare a long time ago are now being diagnosed at an alarming rate.  Why is this?  Is it because we have better diagnostic tools to identify these illnesses?  Is it because our genes are changing or these illnesses are hereditary?  Is it because these kids just have bad luck?  I think we all know the answer to all those questions is a very emphatic NO. 

These issues that we are seeing in our youth are issues that can be avoided, treated, and prevented with combining Pediatric Chiropractic Care, the right lifestyle path, and without compounding the problem with the side effects of some of the very powerful medications prescribed to treat them.  We are seeing more and more kids on methylphenidates, which is the generic brand-name of ADHD drugs such as Ritalin, Concera, and Daytrana.  Accompanying those medications is a list of side effects ranging from headache and mild joint pain to sudden, unexplained death.  A recent study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry suggests that certain stimulant medications used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may cause sudden, unexplained death,1 adding to previous reports emphasizing the potential dangers of such medications.1-2  In their conclusion, the study authors state: "This study reports a significant association or 'signal' between sudden unexplained death and the use of stimulant medication, specifically methylphenidate. While the data does have limitations that preclude a definitive conclusion, our findings draw attention to the potential risks of stimulant medications for children and adolescents." They add: "Although sudden unexplained death is a rare event, this finding should be considered in the context of other data about the risk and benefit of stimulants in medical treatment."1  That is a scary association. 

Luckily we have groups out there, such as the ICPA (International Pediatric Chiropractic Association) who train and certify Pediatric Chiropractors and do studies to prove that you do have a choice in the treatment of these types of conditions for your kids.  Pediatric Chiropractic care is very safe and effective at promoting and improving the overall health of out children.  The ICPA in its release referencing a recent study titled "The Chiropractic Care of Patients With Attention Deficit Disorder: A Retrospective Analysis." According to the ICPA, the study, which has been accepted for publication, "shows promising results for children under chiropractic care."  There are safe alternative choices for dealing with these conditions and seeing a Pediatric Chiropractor is one of them.

Thrive Chiropractic Wellness Center is committed to being your Pediatric Chiropractor in Milton, GA serving the surrounding communities of Alpharetta, Cumming, Canton, Roswell, and Crabapple.  

​-Dr. Jeremy DiMartino



1Gould MS, Walsh T, Munfakh JL, et al. Sudden death and use of stimulant medications in youth. American Journal of Psychiatry, June 15, 2009; published online ahead of print.
2Press release from the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, received June 18, 2009.
3http://www.dynamicchiropractic.com/mpacms/dc/article.php?id=53941



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ADHD Medication Warning

6/5/2012

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This video is eye opening to the dangers of ADHD medications.  Once again, I am struck by the power of pharmaceutical companies that they can continue to market drugs whose side effects are more severe than the effects of the condition for which they are designed.  The light at the end of the tunnel with these illnesses is that research is coming out to support alternative care as having positive influences on these conditions.  Chiropractic care has been shown to relieve some of the symptoms associated with these devastating diagnoses.   
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    Authors

    Dr. Jeremy DiMartino, DC
    ​Dr. Erin Corrigan, DC
    and Thrive CWC Staff

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