Florida Orthopedic: Properly Wearing a Backpack

Now that school is back in session Florida Orthopedic Sea Spine Orthopedic Institute would like to remind parents on the importance of children correctly wearing their backpacks this school year. Many children and even some adults think its trendy to wear only one strap, but according to many studies to wear a backpack slung over one shoulder or riding low on your back can lead to shoulder pain and future posture problems.

Contrary to popular belief, it's not just the weight of the backpack that’s harmful, but how it's carried. To prevent back problems and future pains, individuals should use backpacks as they were designed to be worn, with two straps, and high on their backs. It has been shown that wearing the backpack low on your back, the pressure was significantly higher than when wearing it correctly high on the back.

According to the American Academy of Orthopedics, children's backpacks should weigh no more than 15% of their body weight. At Sea Spine Orthopedic Institute we understand that many people may not realize that they are hurting themselves while wearing their backpacks incorrectly. Here are some recommendations from Florida orthopedic Sea Spine Orthopedic Institute for choosing the right backpack and using it correctly.

Choose the right sized pack: The backpack should fit between the top or your child’s shoulders and lower back. 

Proper Straps: Adjustable shoulder straps help distribute the weight of the backpack better across the shoulders and chest. This ensures the backpack can be worn comfortably against the person’s body.  There should not be a gap between the backpack and your body.

Distribute the weight get a backpack made of lightweight materials, and if you can make sure it has various small compartments to distribute the weight.

Time limit. One should wear the backpack for 30 minutes or less. Unless you’re on an all-day hike.

Get in Shape: Exercising and staying fit can increase your strength and ability to carry heavy backpacks, which will reduce your chance of injury. Even if it’s not for wearing a backpack staying healthy is essential.  

Proper chiropractic care is a very effective way to get rid of your child’s backpack related pain.  If your child is experiencing back and neck pain or headaches, it may be a good time to get checked by a local chiropractor. If you're looking for professional and experienced high-rated Florida orthopedic surgeons, contact SeaSpine Orthopedic Institute today at (http://www.seaspineortho.com/) or call  866-816-ORTHO.

Florida Orthopedic Taking Care of Your Feet

At Sea Spine Orthopedic Institute we are constantly educating our patients on the importance of taking care of their bodies. Some of the most common problems we encounter are joint and back complications. These problems can derive from many situations but the most common are due to unhealthy walking and running habits and not taking care of their feet.  People generally pay little attention to their feet since they are literally the furthest things from sight, however one must remember they are the foundation of our bodies.

Taking care of your feet isn’t just about looking good. When your feet don't get the attention they deserve, chronic problems can develop, not just on your feet, your back and joints may start bothering you and escalate to greater problems.

How do your feet affect your body? Think of a ball bouncing on a firm floor, the energy applied when it hits the ground makes it rebound. Same thing when we walk or run, the force applied through the body rebounds on the joints, bouncing back up through the legs, knees, hips and spine. The rebounding  effect lies in the arches of the feet, which support your spine.

Our feet determine the position of our knees, lower back, hip and shoulders. So, when our feet are tight and clenched, our whole body imitates this tension. If your feet are tired your body is tired. If your feet are out of alignment your whole body will be too. Our feet are the first indicator to reveal our general state of health with diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, neurological problems and circulatory problems.

One of the best ways to avoid trouble with your feet is to practice preventive care. Here at Sea Spine Orthopedic Institute we have a few suggestions that can improve your feet’s condition and help you avoid future complications: 

• Massage your feet, especially stretching and opening the toes, moving your feet in circles, bending the toes forward and backwards. 
• Keep your weight down by eating healthier, the less pressure on your feet the better.
• Exercise as much as you can, helps strengthen muscles and keep a healthy circulatory flow of blood to the feet.
• Wear soft, comfortable and supportive shoes that move with every step and provide good arch support.

If you or anyone you know is experiencing problems deriving from walking & running or pain caused from poor posture, please contact one of our many offices to set up an appointment.  Our highly qualified staff of nurses and surgeons would be more than happy to help you get back on your feet and back to a healthy active work lifestyle.

If you're looking for professional and experienced high-rated Florida orthopedic surgeons, contact SeaSpine Orthopedic Institute today at (http://www.seaspineortho.com/) or call  866-816-ORTHO.