Worried about Back Pain? Put that Bag Down!
By Sandy Schroeder
Everywhere we go we tote bags, purses and backpacks with us. Kids’ bulging backpacks, women’s oversized fashion bags, and work totes are routinely jammed with everything we could possibly need.
Over time, your back may react to the load and start to complain. Before that happens to you or your kids, this might be the time to start protecting your back.
How Your Chiropractor Can Help
Stopping in at The Joint Chiropractic clinic near you could be a good starting point to learn more about your back and how to protect it. The Joint’s doctors of chiropractic are well equipped to help. They help people of all ages find relief from pain and learn new prevention tips daily.
Bring your family and get to know your chiropractor as you learn more about spinal health and back safety. Your chiropractor will do individual health profiles, reviewing your work, regular activities and health history.
Gentle targeted spinal adjustments may be used to relieve pain and create an overall sense of well-being. Often weekly 15-minute spinal adjustments prove to be the way to maintain spinal health and work on ongoing issues such as back safety.
How Our Backs Get Hurt
Researchers say carrying oversized backpacks and totes can compress the spinal cord, which can lead to serious long term back pain. It can also create negative walking or posture habits and increase knee pain.
Women’s oversized bags can create uneven posture and impact walking, leading to tension headaches and pain in the shoulders, back, hips, knees or feet.
Ways to Fight Back
Workspace checkup – Reviews for your job workspace and your kids’ computer work areas will emphasize better posture and better use of equipment to protect the back. Using a chair with good back and shoulder support, keeping the monitor at eye level, and keeping feet flat on the floor are good starting points. Breaking up work sessions to avoid lengthy sitting is also important.
Toting specs – Backpacks for kids and totes for adults should never be heavier than 10 percent of body weight. Wherever possible, weight should be divided between both shoulders and items in packs should be evenly distributed.
Lifting, carrying guide – Never bend from the waist and always use the legs to power lifts. When lifting an item, move in close, face the object and lift straight up, never twisting the body. When items such as furniture are too heavy, get help.
Stop by The Joint Chiropractic clinic near you to keep your back healthy. Learn more about the affordable personal health care plans, and the flexible weekend and evening hours. No appointments are needed.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic ub Lexington, S.C.