Doylestown PA Chiropractor Hosts National Backpack Awareness Day

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. - Aug. 30, 2013 - PRLog -- As the end of summer vacation nears and the new school year begins, students are preparing for a successful new academic year. As parents and children are planning their "back-to-school" lists, Dr. Jeff McQuaite of Azzatori Chiropractic-Doylestown (https://plus.google.com/111503472310706162154/about?hl=en) is urging them to keep backpack safety in mind and to work as a team with Central Bucks Schools to “lighten the load”.

Dr. Jeff says “They’re fun, fashionable, and necessary, and  they’re usually at the top of almost every back-to-school shopping list.  However backpacks can also cause pain and strain muscles if not chosen and used properly.”

"Backpacks are designed to distribute the weight of load among some of the body's strongest muscles," said Dr. Jeff McQuaite (http://mcquaitechiropractic.com/your-central-bucks-chiropractor-accepts-most-insurances.html), the local doctor for Backpack Safety America.

"But when worn incorrectly, injuries such as strains, sprains and posture problems can occur," he said. "While some of these injuries can be minor, others can have a lasting effect on kids, and follow them into adulthood."

Recent research has shown that approximately 60% of students have reported pain due to their backpacks, with the majority complaining of back and neck issues. Further studies show that these students reported difficulty carrying their books, had difficulty participating in sports and were more apt to carry fewer books to class.  More than 24,000 people were treated in U.S. hospitals and doctors' offices for backpack-related injuries in 2012, and more than 9,500 of those patients were aged 5 to 18, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Parents should buy a backpack that's an appropriate size for the child. They should encourage their child to alert them about numbness or tingling in the arms or legs, which may indicate that a backpack fits poorly or that a child is carrying too much weight, Dr. McQuaite said.

To learn more about National School Backpack Awareness Day, please go to our website (http://www.mcquaitechiropractic.com), www.mcquaitechiropractic.com.

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