Can Poor Posture as a Child Impact Health in Adulthood? Good posture is developed from good habits, which is why it is so important to encourage children to stand up straight. Otherwise, bad habits can develop which can lead to issues later in life. Many adults with chronic back pain can trace their issues back to a childhood injury or a lack of proper posture habits established as kids. Children are at a greater risk for back and spine injuries because they are in the still growing and tend to be more active than adults. Studies show that injuries are more common among children who engage in sports or recreation regularly, and nearly one third of all injuries experienced by children are related to sports. Stresses and traumas that occur during childhood can also lead to spinal dysfunction later in life. Furthermore, the heavy backpacks our kids carry can contribute to postural problems and cases of spinal dysfunction. There is a correlation between a lack of proper spinal maintenance and the development of scoliosis in children and teens. What’s more, it seems that children who practice proper spinal health habits have far fewer health problems than those who do not. Read more…
Believe it or not, too much homework can be bad for your health. But don’t worry kids, there are things you can do to ensure that homework is painless! And no, we don’t mean avoiding assignments. Though school is in session for most, it’s never too late to talk about backpack safety. This week’s blog discusses the trouble with heavy backpacks and provides tips to keep in mind when shopping for a backpack. Backpacks, Back Problems According a recent U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission study, more than 75% of students ages 8-12 suffer from increasing back pain inflicted by carrying their schoolwork and supplies in backpacks or similar totes. This is no surprise considering, some of our younger elementary school students are literally carrying one third their body weight for prolonged periods of time and distance. That puts a lot of stress on a body in the midst of development. Student back injuries are now widespread. 96% of the pupils monitored regularly haul much too heavy a pack on their back. Backpack Safety Tips 1. Children should not carry backpacks that exceed more than 10% of their body weight — which translates into a 5 to 10-pound load for elementary Read more…