School can be a pain in the neck, but don’t let it affect your back.  It is not normal for your children to have back pain, this should not be occurring.  Yet upwards of 3 out of every 4 kids report back pain.  Aside from acute cases (car accident, sports injury), these are commonly preventable issues.  Heather Finnegan, PT, DPT wrote an awesome overview with recommendations on proper backpack posture that can be seen here (http://theracorephysicaltherapy.blogspot.com/2014/08/what-is-correctand-safe-way-to-wear.html).  While backpacks are a major concern in causing neck, shoulder, and back pain.  Here are other things to take into consideration to help prevent this very preventable issue:

Sitting:  More and more research is coming out, and long story short sitting wrecks us.  Try to minimize time spent sitting to less than 2 hours per day

Texting: This is becoming a major issue!  Hunched over a cell phone is no way to text, sit up straight and bring the phone into your line of vision.

Activity: Being inactive and losing strength in important muscle groups puts you at a much higher risk to develop pain in the neck, shoulders, and back.  Make frequent movement and activity a priority!

Often the solution is simple and being more aware of your posture can address and reverse pain that you are experiencing.  Don’t let this linger, this is something that needs to be addressed before it becomes a chronic condition that is much more difficult to treat.  If you’ve been in pain for longer than one month and this does not change with postural corrections, please see us for a complementary injury screen for a more detailed assessment to avoid this becoming a real issue.  Good posture is the new cool.

-Dave Paczkowski PT, DPT

TheraCORE Physical Therapy Locations

Five Seasons Family Sports Club

6901 S. Madison

Burr Ridge, IL 60527

630.590-.409

16622 W. 159th St., Ste. 503

Lockport, IL 60441

815.838.5070

350 E. Ogden Ave., Ste. 200

Westmont, IL 60559

630.908.7430

www.theracorept.com

http://youtu.be/Uw09QuIu7GY

Pain in the Backpack

My daughter has been complaining about her back bothering her intermittently throughout the school year. It seems to become worse as she gets more school work. I tell her she needs to use both straps to carry her backpack, especially when it is heavy. She won’t because it is, “not cool”. Is this going to do long term harm to her body?

~Just Another Concerned Parent

Just Another Concerned Parent,
Unfortunately most kids only use one strap and it is always the same side, which is why they begin to complain about back pain as the school year progresses. By habitually carrying your backpack over the same shoulder, the body has to compensate for the uneven weight resulting in muscle imbalances, strains, spasms and low back pain. The natural curve of the middle and low back is altered, which affects the alignment of the rib cage causing posture to be changed. This can also lead to problems with the neck and shoulder. She may benefit from physical therapy in order to work on postural re-education and core stabilization. This will improve not only her standing posture, but her sitting posture as well which will help her prevent injury as she gets older. You are absolutely correct in telling your daughter to use both straps of her back pack.  This will not only promote proper posture and decrease short term back pain, but it will prevent back issues in the future.