Those years of puberty we fondly (or not-so fondly!) recall can have a huge impact on a child’s spine, where changes in hormones cause ligaments and tissues to become more relaxed in preparation for growth. Add to this an overweight backpack — like many kids will be strapping on this school year — and the spine can become compressed.
And that could lead to scoliosis.
As school — and homework — starts, it’s important to look for signs of scoliosis in our children, as it’s now known that early detection is the key to treating this condition.
Scoliosis is a condition which affects a person’s nerves, muscles and skeleton. Symptoms can include lower back pain, neck pain, headaches, fatigue, digestive issues, and much more.
Usually, the first sign of scoliosis is abnormal posture. For a child with normal posture, the ears, shoulders, hips, and knees should be even when looking at the individual from the front. From the side, the ears, shoulders, middle of pelvis, knees and ankles should follow one straight line down. Any deviation from this could indicate scoliosis. Current research shows that the prevalence of scoliosis in our country is anywhere from 4.5 to 15 percent of the population.
These days, children often wear backpacks that weigh up to half of their weight. When this extra weight is placed on the shoulders, the weight’s force pulls the child backward. The body will try to compensate for the added pressure — causing the child to bend forward at the hips, arch the bag and jet his neck forward — placing abnormal stress and force on the developing spine. Some children don’t even use both straps of the bag, and instead sling one strap over a shoulder. Others wear their bags so low that, as they walk, the bag bounces off of their tailbone with every step they take. Repetitive stress like this can adversely affect the spine. For children who have had previous spinal injuries that have gone unnoticed or untreated, abnormal backpack use and abuse can cause their spinal condition or scoliosis to worsen.
Here are five simple guidelines to help decrease stress on your child’s spine:
• Make sure your child wears both straps of the backpack at all times.
• A backpack should weigh no more than 10 to 15 percent of his body weight. If the child has scoliosis, the bag should weigh no more than five percent of his body weight. For example, if a child weighs 80 pounds and does not have scoliosis, then the bag should weigh between eight and 12 pounds.
• If the child needs to carry a large number of books in the bag, try to limit as many extra items as possible. Have the child carry a book or two underneath his arm. Some children are using new bags with wheels, which are ideal because they place no stress on the spine.
• If the backpack has a strap around the lower half of it, then have the child buckle the strap. This will cause more stability of the bag.
• Teach the child how to bend at the knees so to use her legs for lifting.
Unfortunately, scoliosis cannot be treated by merely avoiding backpack abuse. However, proper use can significantly reduce unnecessary pressure and stress on the spine. Scoliosis is a progressive disease that, without proper detection and treatment, can worsen. Advancements in non-invasive scoliosis treatment performed by specialized chiropractors have had promising results.
Start the school year off right by getting your child checked for scoliosis today!
Dr. Diana D’Angelo is a chiropractor at Buckley Family Chiropractic in Greenlawn, NY. Buckley Family Chiropractic specializes in advanced scoliosis treatment. You can reach Dr. Diana at (631) 754-4333 or at info@buckleyfamilychiropractic.com.
