Newburgh Alternative Medicine Can Counteract Backpack Stress on Kids

September means one thing for parents and children across America: returning to school. Kids walking along streets wearing backpacks will quickly become a normal sight in and out of classrooms. However, several studies have determined that prolonged carrying of heavy weights can have a detrimental effect on the long-term health and well-being of children. An article from the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association said that:

Wearing a backpack on one shoulder may cause a child to lean to one side in order to compensate for the extra weight. The middle back, ribs and lower back can become stressed on the side of the body opposite of where the backpack is placed. Carrying the pack on one shoulder may also cause upper back pain and a strain in the shoulders and neck.

 Heavy backpacks can also increase the risk of falling. Research by the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation found that students carrying backpacks weighing 25 percent of their body weight had balance problems and were unable to perform normal activities such as climbing stairs and opening doors. Conversely, students who wore backpacks weighing 15 percent of their body weight maintained balance moderately. The most effective weight carried in the packs, however, was five percent of body weight.

With their still developing spines, constant wearing of backpacks can have harmful effects on children’s growing physiques. Like most parts of the body, a child’s nervous system is still growing at a rapid rate and constant physical pressure such as carrying backpacks from class to class can impede the development of the spinal column, the spinal cord, the associated nerves, and even the brain.

Since the nervous system functions as the body’s command center, chiropractic adjustment ensures that it is working at optimal condition so that proper communication is maintained between the body’s systems. A skilled chiropractor will also recognize that youngsters require gentler manipulation than adults and be mindful of this difference during treatment.

With a growing number of parents reporting positive results from taking their children for chiropractic care, seeking the help of an established Newburgh wellness treatment center such as the Advanced Alternative Medicine Center can benefit kids navigating the intricate structures of schools in New York City.

Besides helping manage the nervous system, chiropractors and practitioners of alternative medicine in Newburgh and other localities can also offer counseling for a holistic approach to health through proper nutrition, consistent exercise, and managing stress factors that children encounter daily.

With health being a valuable foundation of success, making sure that children are sufficiently prepared to juggle the various demands of growing up in one of the busiest cities in the world is definitely a number one priority all year round.

If you have questions or would like to schedule a consultation, please call 845-561-2225.

(Source: Backpack Safety for Back to School, ICPA)