Well the kids are back in school and there are many relieved parents out there. Sorry “teach.” But as the kids return to class there is one burden almost all of them will bear. It’s not preparation for the state exam; it’s the monster book bag they all carry.

A poll of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons reported the continued exposure to such weight loads would impose postural problems and lead to damage to children’s backs.

Pick up your kid’s book bag sometime. Does it seem like it is too heavy? Watch them walk to the bus. If they are hunched or twisted, now is the time re-evaluate their book bag and what’s in it to try to prevent them from developing back and neck pain.

I remember lugging my blue duffle bag back and forth filled with my sports gear and my books. Of course if I spent a little more time focused on school work in study hall, that could have minimized the work I needed to bring home, but I was also majoring in procrastination at the time.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has estimated that more than 12,700 children ages 5 – 14 had to be treated for injuries caused by their book bags. They also reported 7,277 visits to the Emergency Room as a result of carrying book bags. They found back injuries related to back packs was up 330 percent since 1996.

This is extremely serious considering these stresses are applied to a child who is growing. This is the most important time in spinal health and could be the start of life-long back or neck problems. An NIH study found students who use backpacks had an increase of back pain as they got older. Less than 10 percent of preteens had pain which then elevated to 50 percent in 15-16 year-olds

Damage to a growing spine, much like getting hit in sports like football or being involved in a motor vehicle accident, can have a negative affect for years to come. That’s why I try to educate the public on how chiropractic can help resolve these issues early and prevent problems later in life.

An improperly loaded spine will cause stress and wear to be distributed to th