Back to school is upon us, and many parents may be worried about the effect their children’s backpacks have on their backs. Filled with books, folders, and school supplies, these everyday items can quickly become a heavy burden, causing joint and muscle pain. 

But your child’s backpack doesn’t have to be a constant source of pain. At Elite Chiropractic, we want you to know how your child’s backpack contributes to their discomfort and everything you can do to prevent back pain. 

Why Is Your Child’s Backpack Causing Back Pain?

As your child progresses through school, their backpacks become heavier and heavier, weighed down by larger textbooks and more substantial course loads. The average school backpack may weigh up to 30 pounds. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that a child’s backpack not weigh more than 10% to 20% of their body weight. But how is the weight of the backpack causing back pain?

When your child wears a backpack, especially one that is too heavy, this weight is applied to the spine. As the weight increases and your child’s posture begins to suffer, they may experience herniated discs, neck and foot pain, sciatica, and chronic back pain. As your child’s back pain increases, their attempts to alleviate discomfort may cause more harm than good. Slumping to quell discomfort applies more pressure on the spine, creating even more substantial discomfort. 

You may not even realize your child’s backpack is causing back pain until they vocalize it. However, a few signs that your child is experiencing back pain as a result of the weight of their backpack include the following:

• They struggle to get the backpack on and off
• They slump while wearing their backpack
• They choose not to wear it, instead dragging it or carrying it in their arms

If your child exhibits any of these signs, you may want to consider taking action to prevent back pain before it becomes a more significant, chronic problem. 

1. Wear The Backpack Properly

Any excessive weight of a backpack is already bad for your back. But, if they are wearing their backpack wrong, the weight may cause even more substantial strain on your child’s back muscles. To prevent back pain from their backpack, ensure your child is wearing their backpack appropriately. 

The shoulder straps of the backpack should be adjusted so the bag sits in the middle of your child’s back. It should fit closely to their body and rest in the curve of the lower back. Their backpack should never rest any more than four inches below their waistline. 

2. Choose An Appropriate Backpack

Choosing the appropriate backpack is essential to prevent back pain. When selecting a backpack, choose one that is proportionate to your child’s height. The straps of the backpack should also be wide and padded to prevent them from sliding off of your child’s shoulders. 

You may also want to find a backpack with a padded back to protect your child’s back from being stabbed by any items inside. Finally, look for a backpack with multiple compartments. This will allow you to organize the bag more appropriately. 

3. Lighten The Load

While some items in your child’s backpack can’t be removed, there are some things they carry every day that can come out of their bag to help prevent back pain. You should recommend that they use a locker if it is an option to remove any unnecessary items between classes. You should also take any items out of their backpack that they don’t need to bring with them. 

If the school offers it, you should also consider changing your child over to electronic textbooks. A textbook can weigh between two and six pounds. With more than one in their bag, the weight can increase substantially. 

4. Wear The Waist Or Chest Strap

Some backpacks come with a waist or chest strap. If that is available, you should always recommend that your child wears it to prevent back pain. When they wear the waist or chest strap, it ensures the backpack sits as closely to their body as possible. 

With these straps, you don’t have to worry that your child isn’t wearing their backpack correctly. In addition to ensuring the backpack is worn properly, the straps help with weight distribution. The waist strap helps distribute weight to the hips, while the chest strap helps prevent swaying. 

5. Organize It Properly

Organizing your backpack appropriately plays a big role in the way the weight is distributed and how it may hurt your back. If you want to prevent back pain, there are a few organizational tips you should follow. The heaviest items in the bag should go firmly against your child’s back, while lighter items should go closer to the front.

These lighter items should also go closer to the bottom of the bag, while medium- to heavy-weight items should go closer to the top. By organizing your child’s backpack properly, you allow the weight to be distributed in a way that doesn’t place more stress on the shoulders and back. 

6. Ask A Chiropractor For Help 

If your child is dealing with chronic back pain that doesn’t go away, even after you’ve followed the advice above, you should schedule an appointment with a chiropractor. Your chiropractor may help alleviate pain by treating compression and tense muscles. 

The chiropractor may also assign exercises for your child to help build strength in their back muscles. By strengthening these muscles, you may also notice a substantial improvement in your child’s posture, allowing for less strain on the spine. These treatments, coupled with the assigned exercises, may even prevent back pain from returning.

Prevent Back Pain With The Help Of Elite Chiropractic

If you or your child is dealing with back pain from heavy backpacks, you should schedule an appointment with a chiropractor you can trust. At Elite Chiropractic, our team of expert chiropractors has years of experience, making us confident that we can treat and prevent back pain caused by heavy backpacks. 

In addition to treating back pain, we help patients heal from auto accidents, sports injuries, and more. If you are interested in scheduling an appointment to treat and prevent back pain or would like to speak with a member of our team, contact us today.

If you have recently gone through a traumatic accident, there is a chance you have a concussion. If you have recently been through a car accident or play contact sports, it is critical that you can identify the signs of a concussion to stay safe. Not knowing the symptoms of a concussion can result in longer healing times or increased chances of worsening the injury. 

If you are not feeling like yourself and are struggling to determine if the symptoms you are experiencing are signs of a concussion, having a reliable resource to rely on is crucial. Our team of experts has created a list of signs that you have a concussion so that you can seek adequate care for this head injury. 

What Is A Concussion? 

A concussion is a traumatic brain injury, ranging from mild to severe, that can impact brain function. You may have a concussion following a blow to the head or an accident that resulted in violent shaking of the head and body. 

You may also experience a concussion following a hit in a contact sport, such as football, soccer, or rugby. The hits these players take can be violent enough to cause persistent concussions. With a concussion, your brain either bounces or twists in your head. This movement can create chemical changes in your brain, as well as damage to brain cells. 

Signs You Have A Concussion

The signs you have a concussion will vary depending on the severity of your injury. The symptoms may start subtly and may not present immediately after the accident. They may also persist for several weeks following the accident. 

If you have a mild concussion, the symptoms may appear immediately following the accident. Symptoms of a mild concussion generally go away after a few weeks of light activity and care. Signs of a mild concussion include the following:

• Changes in your sleep patterns, including less sleep, more sleep, or difficulty sleeping
• Light and sound sensitivity
• Headaches, dizziness, and nausea
• Difficulty concentrating
• Emotional changes, including irritability, anxiety, or nervousness

Moderate to severe concussions can result in much more significant problems for those suffering. Moderate to severe concussions may follow a head injury resulting in temporary loss of consciousness or a coma. Because of the severity of the injury, concussions can result in long-term or life-long health problems. Signs of a moderate to severe concussion include the following:

• Difficulty communicating or understanding others
• Problems with vision and hearing
• Weakness in your limbs
• Extreme changes in emotions, including depression, aggression, or nervousness
• Personality changes, including trouble controlling behaviors

What A Chiropractor Can Do To Help

When you have a concussion, your doctor will likely advise you to take things easy. By that, they often mean no physically strenuous activity or sports and resting when the opportunity presents itself. You should avoid bright lights, watching television, reading, or looking at a computer screen. This rest period gives your head a chance to recover without irritation. 

You should also take anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen, to relieve any headache or nausea you may be experiencing. This medication will also help with any other pain you experience following your accident. If you were in a car accident, you might have back and neck pain in addition to your concussion.

If this is the case, seeing a chiropractor can help you alleviate some of the pain you’re experiencing. There are many treatments a chiropractor may suggest when dealing with neck and back pain, including mobility and decompression treatments, as well as laser and vibration therapies. If you are dealing with any lingering body pain following a concussion, you should consider seeing a chiropractor. 

When To Seek Medical Attention

If you have a concussion, it is crucial that you know when to seek immediate medical attention. If you are an adult and have gone home following your initial consultation with your physician and are experiencing increased weakness, vomiting, seizures, or slurred speech, you should call 911 or head to an emergency room immediately. The signs that a child needs to see a medical professional are the same but also include not eating or nursing and being inconsolable. 

Treating Your Concussion With Elite Chiropractic

If you have a concussion and are dealing with lingering pain, it can feel like there is nowhere to turn. But our team at Elite Chiropractic is here to help you get back to everyday life. With years of experience, we are confident that we can help you feel more like yourself again. If you are looking for treatment following your concussion or would like to speak with a member of our team, contact us today.

96% of adults have experienced a headache at least once in their life. If you’ve been in this position, you may have dealt with extreme discomfort and are looking for treatments to alleviate pain. 

But to treat your headaches, you should first understand the different kinds you can develop and the symptoms of each. Here are 5 common headaches and their symptoms, as well as chiropractic treatments you may receive to treat them. 

1. Tension Headaches

A tension headache is a mild to moderate pain that feels similar to a tight band of pressure that wraps around the head. While no cause is confirmed, they can be triggered by increased stress. Tension headaches are the most common headaches reported among adults. They don’t generally impact an individual’s daily life, but medical attention may be required if they become persistent. 

Symptoms of tension headaches include:

• Slow onset pain
• A dull, aching feeling in the head
• Tender neck, scalp, and shoulder muscles
• Tightness or pressure across the forehead or side or back of the head

2. Cluster Headaches

A cluster headache is a severe pain felt on one side of the head that occurs up to 8 times a day. These headaches occur in cycles of weeks or months before they go into remission. They most often affect people 20 to 40 years old. They are common in 1 in 1,000 people and often require a medical diagnosis. There is no confirmed cause of cluster headaches; however, the cluster headache pattern suggests a connection to the hypothalamus.

Symptoms of a cluster headache include: 

• Burning, piercing pain that lasts 15 minutes to 3 hours
• Pain felt on the same side of the head during every headache
• The sensation starts behind the eye and can spread
• Redness or swelling of the affected eye
• Pale skin or flushing of the face

3. Migraines

Migraines are a type of headache that is characterized by recurrent pain that includes throbbing and pulsing on one side of the head. They generally start in the morning or at predictable intervals, such as immediately after stressful days. Migraines affect 1 in 5 women and 1 in 15 men. If you believe your migraines are becoming more persistent, you may want to begin a migraine journal, tracking frequency and symptoms to discuss with your medical provider.

Symptoms of a migraine include:

• Changes in bodily function several days beforehand
• Auras, including black spots in your vision
• Sound and light sensitivity
• Pain that lasts between 4 and 72 hours
• Nausea and vomiting

4. Sinus Headaches

Sinus headaches are a headache that feels similar to an infection in the sinuses. The symptoms of a sinus headache are similar to those of a migraine, making them difficult to distinguish. They aren’t very common and are often self-misdiagnosed as a migraine. If you experience 15 or more headache days in a month that isn’t alleviated by pain medication, you may want to see a medical professional. 

Symptoms of a sinus headache include: 

• Pressure in the cheeks, brows, and forehead
• Increased discomfort when bending forward or lying down
• Nasal congestion
• An achy feeling in the teeth
• Fever

5. Post-Traumatic Headaches

Head pain following a concussion is standard. However, if you develop a new headache in the 7 days following your concussion, you may have a post-traumatic headache. These headaches can feel like a mix between migraines and tension headaches. If you develop a post-traumatic headache, you’ll want to speak with a medical provider who may prescribe anti-depressants, anti-seizure, or blood pressure medications. 

Symptoms of a post-traumatic headache include:

• Memory problems and trouble concentrating
• Sensitivity to light and sound
• Pulsating pain
• Dizziness, nausea, and vomiting
• Mood changes, including increased feelings of depression

How A Chiropractor Can Help With Your Headaches

If you’re dealing with pain from persistent headaches or have a family history, you may want to consider seeing a chiropractor. The sooner you start treatment, the happier you will be. Regular chiropractic treatments can reduce the pain and frequency you experience. 

Treatments provided by chiropractors include:

• Vibration Plate Therapy
• Spinal Traction Therapy
• Spinal Corrections
• Spinal Decompression
• Class IV Laser Therapy 
• Lifestyle Changes and Education 
• At-Home Management

You may consider seeing a chiropractor if you are looking for treatments to help alleviate discomfort from headaches. Our team of experts at Elite Chiropractic can help you through this pain and allow you to get back on track. If you want to schedule an appointment or would like to speak with one of our team members, call our office at (509) 436-8530.