Backpacking back to school...

We have all come to understand that the back packs our children use to go back and forth to school can really be problematic. So I ask all of you to raise your consciousness about this and lets talk about some of these issues...

Different information has been gathered over these past 10-15 years showing that too much weight in back packs can cause problems such as:

- Heavy compression on disks

- Increasing the curvature of the lower spine

- Causing back pain and shoulder problems

- Over loaded packs can also strain neck and thoracic spine

- Developing curves in the mid and lower back causing muscle strain and irritation to the spine and ribcage

- Rounding shoulders

- Back pack over load can cause students to lean forward, reducing balance and making it easier to fall

Here are some important tips to help prevent over loaded back pack issues:

- Always use both shoulder straps. Wear packs on back, not over 1 shoulder

- Adjust straps to fit the pack snuggly to the child/adult body holding the bottom of the pack two inches above the waist and keeping the top just below the base of the skull, do not carry pack low toward butt

- Lift packs using leg muscles and keep close to the body, do not bend over with arms extended

- Do not lean forward when walking with back pack, if that is necessary there is too much weight in pack

- The pack should not be larger than users back

As parents, be proactive. Ask your child if they feel any back ache or pains. Coach your child to only carry books needed in packs leaving unnecessary items at home or school. Please train your child to clean out his or her pack at least once a week.

These are important, trust me. In the past 15 years I have seen more and more children with mid and low back issues due to back packs. So, watch out for this issue please. We want our children to be as healthy as they can be.

Any questions do not hesitate to give the office a call. Yours in good health,

Dr. Ray and Staff

Important Choices to be Made

At the moment, I am totally drained as a response to the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. All the rhetoric is dizzying and confusing to be honest. It is a lot of choices to be made and rather important ones to boot. I think we all have to try to do our best to make what judgments we feel are the right ones for us and the best ones for the country. 

We also have an amazing amount of choices that we daily have to deal with when it comes to the health of our bodies. Making good evaluations to decide what to put into our bodies, trying to make good emotional decisions for our mental health, making good choices concerning our exercise regime, etc. These are distinctions that we must deal with everyday and are very important so our bodies can continue to be as healthy as they can be and allow us to live the lives that we imagine. 

Please never hesitate in calling the office if you have any questions concerning these choices for your health. We are here to answer those questions any day, any time or at least get back to you as promptly as we can. 

Keep on trying to make excellent decisions for your bodies as well as for our great country. 

Yours in good health,

Dr. Ray and Staff