Is Your Child Having Back Pain from their Backpack?
What is one common problem that children across the globe face from school? The answer is chronic back pain that comes from lugging a heavy backpack around all day long – aka backpack pain. Too many kids have multiple books, folders, binders, and importantly, a heavy computer, weighing them down as they walk from class to class or from home to school. It is unhealthy for anyone to have that much weight on their back, in fact, it is recommended to have a maximum of 5-10% of the student’s body weight in their backpack. This recommendation tends to be unrealistic when it comes to the demands of an average school day; especially, with children wearing their backpacks in unconventional ways (one strap on their shoulder etc.). So, what is the fix to prevent back pain from backpacks? Although people might not initially consider it for a child, chiropractic care can help with this issue.
Children Seeing a Chiropractor for Back or Neck Pain
A common misconception is that only older people can see a chiropractor. In fact, it is beneficial for people of all ages to get a chiropractic adjustment; especially school age children that wear a backpack. Heavy backpacks can cause a negative impact on a child’s posture and can even disrupt their balance ¹. Poor posture can have a lasting impact on the child’s life, possibly causing worse back pain and problems down the road. In order to avoid neck pain or back pain from developing, chiropractors are trained to work with children of all ages. Chiropractors are taught during their schooling about the difference in the anatomy of a child vs. an adult, and are able to perform routine adjustments on children with modified techniques. 
Most adult patients seek chiropractic care for management of their pain and other symptoms. They might have a herniated disc, a kink in their neck, or chronic back pain that they are looking for symptom relief.
Meanwhile, parents tend to bring their child for treatment to correct issues that they are having, such as poor posture, or to prevent it from getting worse ². One of the things you can do right away, even before bringing them to a chiropractor, is to make sure they are not wearing their backpack on one shoulder. This causes an imbalance and you’ll notice that the shoulder they are carrying the backpack on will be higher ³.
Children are actually much more flexible than adults in comparison to their older counterpart. If they are injured, this flexibility can turn to stiffness and it can lead to pain and other problems down the road. Getting chiropractic care soon after an injury or developing stiffness or pain is essential for quick relief and restoring normal spinal biomechanics. While we’re on the subject of the importance of having your child see a chiropractor for back pain and neck pain, see our article on football injuries.
Why the Chiropractic Center of Bristol CT?
At the Chiropractic Center of Bristol, in Bristol CT, our doctors are experts in caring for children and performing safe, gentle chiropractic adjustments on children, teens and young adults. Not only are our doctors educated and experienced, but they are parents too. Our doctors and staff treat every patient like family and each child as though they were their own. This kind of passion for care is not something that you find very often; thankfully, our office is a unique and welcoming environment for patients of all ages! If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment for your son or daughter, call now at 860-583-4346 (if no one answers, leave a detailed message we will call you back ASAP) or fill in the information form below. In most cases we can see you the same day you call.
Sources:
¹ Spine-Health – Backpacks and Back Pain in Children
² Better Health Alaska – 5 Myths about Children and Chiropractic Care Everyone Thinks is True
Dr David M. Spitz is the founder and clinic director of the Chiropractic Health Center of Bristol, located in Bristol, CT. Since 1982, he has treated thousands of patients for various conditions ranging from neck and back pain, to migraine headaches. He specializes in treating patients who have suffered whiplash injuries and/or back injuries in a motor vehicle accident.
Dr Spitz was a volunteer EMT-I and a lieutenant for several years at the Burlington Volunteer Fire Department. He has lectured throughout CT on various topics including, chiropractic, stress management, headaches and preventing back injury in the workplace.
