It’s school time again and that means heavy backpacks. Carrying around a small library on your back is a sure way to lead to spinal problems. We all know proper posture is essential for spinal health. Poor posture leads to compression of discs, muscle strain and imbalance, which leads to scoliosis and degenerative disc disease. Most experts agree that a backpack should weigh no more that 10-15% of body weight.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that parents look for the following when choosing the right backpack:

• a lightweight pack that doesn’t add a lot of weight to your child’s load (for example, even though leather packs look cool, they weigh more than traditional canvas backpacks)
• two wide, padded shoulder straps; straps that are too narrow can dig into shoulders
• a padded back, which not only provides increased comfort, but also protects kids from being poked by sharp edges on objects (pencils, rulers, notebooks, etc.) inside the pack
• a waist belt, which helps to distribute the weight more evenly across the body
• multiple compartments, which can help distribute the weight more evenly

Try to leave out all non-essential items laptops, video games, etc. Also, a trip to the locker as often as possible to trade out books will make a huge difference in the load.

One last thing, kids should be taught the proper way to lift a heavy backpack. As with all things (cardboard boxes with heavy items have taught us one thing) lifting with the legs, while keeping the back erect is the best way to lift a heavy backpack. This, along with strengthening abdominal/core muscles will reduce the potential for muscle strains and pulls in the back.

Just follow these simple guidelines and enjoy the school year!

If your have concerns about the healthy of your child’s spine I encourage you to come in to the Besso Clinic of Chiropractic in Stow.  We use the most gentle methods to correct the spine.  Also, we look for imbalances in the spine in many advanced ways: from the use of thermal infrared imaging to a digital posture analysis.  We offer free scoliosis screenings too.

Oh, and make sure you bring your child’s backpack, with a typical load, so we can take a look.

Thanks for visiting our site!

Dr. Geoff Besso and Dr. David Yates

“When I first came to Besso Clinic in Stow I was suffering from sinus headaches, and neck pain. I had been suffering for 20 + years with these conditions. I would take Sudafed, Excedrin or Tylenol and I did nasal cleansing but did not experience much relief. I also took a lot of natural supplements and saw my family doctor. Since coming to Besso Clinic and starting NUCCA care I have experienced increase energy and decrease in the intensity and frequency of headaches. I used to get motion sickness when riding as a passenger in the car. Since coming to Besso Clinic I can ride in the back seat of the van and not feel sick.

What I like most about the Besso Clinic has been Dr. Besso’s gentle adjustments.  I also like the way he monitors and checks my progress.

The staff has been kind, helpful and attentive. There isn’t one thing I don’t like about the care I have received from Besso Clinic. I would definitely recommend Besso Clinic for gentle chiropractic treatment that ensures my safety but also gives me relief from the pain I was experiencing.”

Cherrie S. Hudson, OH

What a great week at the Besso Clinic!  We had several patients share some really cool success stories.

It started Monday afternoon when I asked a very humble patient of mine, who happens to be a fantastic bowler, if he has had a 300 game since I saw him last month.  I said this with a bit of sarcasm.  Guess what he said!  He said he has had 4 300 games so far this year!!  How about that for functioning at Peak Performance with Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care!

Yesterday, I called a patient with Fibromyalgia after her first correction to check in on her.  She shared that her Fibro fog was gone! Her vision cleared up! Her head felt better, and her muscles felt different.  What a huge blessing!  She said “I can’t explain how encouraged I am!”

Stay tuned for a couple great posts teaching more about fibromyalgia, its causes, and how to get it under control and get your life back.

Today, we had another blessed day.  Another new patient with fibromyalgia shared that she slept 7 hours straight for the first time in a long time! This may not seem like a big deal, but imagine how you would feel if you didn’t have a refreshed nights sleep for a few years.

Then, we had one of our favorite patients share that see had a pretty good bowling performance recently.  She bowled a 181 earlier in the season shortly after starting care, which was well above her average.  Since then she has given us a hard time, claiming that it must have been a fluke because she hadn’t put up another performance like her 181 all season.  Well about three weeks ago, a day after her last visit with us, she busted out a 210!!  Good for her, I don’t think I can break 100!

Check out the testimonials tab above for dozens of great testimonials.

I hope these stories have blessed you and I hope you have a great weekend!