Backpack Safety

Be sure your child uses both straps to balance the load.

Most school-aged children tote backpacks as the preferred means to transport their books and supplies. Chiropractors around the country are seeing younger and younger practice members complaining of back and shoulder pain. Is there a connection?

Backpack Safety International™, an educational program that promotes and delivers guidelines for safe backpack use to administrators, teachers, parents and children, advocates the following four steps to ensure safe backpack use:

  1. Choose right - the backpack should fit between the child’s shoulder blades and waist.

  2. Pack right - The maximum weight of the loaded backpack should not exceed 10 -15 percent of a child’s body weight, so pack wisely.

  3. Lift right - Face the backpack, bend at the knees, lift the backpack with the legs and apply one shoulder strap and then the other.

  4. Wear right – use both shoulder straps and make them snug, but not too tight. Use the waist strap, if available.

Increased awareness and education on this issue seems to be paying off. The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission reported that the number of emergency room visits related to backpack injuries is down from 7,860 to 7,649 over a one-year period.  Previously, the number of cases had risen significantly each year. Increased awareness of this issue may actually be paying off!

Dr. Tony Asks some important questions of interest to Charles City residents - Chiropractor Charles City Dr. Tony Asks...

Can babies with colic be helped with chiropractic?
It's probably one of the times a parent feels the most helpless. But based on the research, chiropractic and colic relief appear to go hand in glove. With success rates in the mid-90% range, more and more Charles City parents are seeing a chiropractor. If you have a baby with colic learn how chiropractic may help.
Would you rather feel good or be healthy?
Ask most people in Charles City and they want to feel good. Careful! Would you take medicine that makes you feel good, rather than vomit to expel improperly prepared food? Every chiropractic practice member knows that you can't measure your health by how you feel. True health is when your body works as it should.