Now, for the first time in history, children are becoming victims of back pain and headaches, sometimes at very early ages.
It is alarming how young people's posture can make them look decades older.
Young children naturally have great posture. A three or four year old child moving about and
playing effortlessly maintains good posture at all times.
We have observed that around 8 or 9 years old children start to lose their naturally good posture.
As with adults, prolonged sitting is the main cause. Hours sitting at school, watching
T.V and playing computer games all cause posture to become faulty.
Getting your children checked
If you notice your child has changes in their posture including:
• Slouching
• Low shoulder
• Head is too far forward
• Hip lower on one side
• Complains of pain or headaches
Then call us on (02) 9955 8055 to have a check up.
Take advantage of our “ Special Web Only Offer ”.
In addition heavy school back are thought to be a big player in childrens poor posture.
Please take a moment to look at our slide show:
View slide show on wearing a backpack correctly (715 kb) >
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Tips on choosing the Right Pack for your child
• Choose a pack that s appropriate to the child s size and age. School backpacks come in different sizes for different ages.
• Select a pack with well-padded shoulder straps. The shoulders and neck are rich in blood vessels and nerves that when constricted can cause pain and tingling in the neck, arms, and hands.
• When shopping for a school backpack, take along books and other materials that the child would carry to judge how each pack varies when fully loaded.
Loading a pack
• Never allow a child to carry more than 15% of his or her body weight. That means a child who weighs 50 kgs should not carry a school backpack that weighs more
than 7.5 kgs
• Load heaviest items closest to the child s back.
• Pack items neatly and organized to keep books and materials from sliding around in the pack, shifting the weight.
Wearing a pack
• Always wear both shoulder straps to distribute weight evenly. Wearing a pack slung over one shoulder can cause a person to lean to one side and curve the spine.
• Adjust the shoulder straps so that the pack fits snugly to the child s back. A pack that hangs loosely from the back can pull the child backwards and strain muscles between the shoulders.
• The bottom of the pack should rest in the curve of the lower back. It should never rest more than four inches below the child s waistline.
Need more information?
Our Spine Health practitioners are trained in helping children with a broad range of issues in addition to proper school backpack use that can affect a child s performance and health. For more information about these and other children-related topics, contact us TODAY .
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