SpinalColumnBlog

[originally published in KCN, September 1999]

As we approach the beginning of yet another school year, I’m reminded of a growing concern that is circulating throughout  our health care community.  The concern I’m speaking of is that we are simply putting too much weight on our children’s shoulders.  And while those in the various mental health professions would certainly support this statement, I’m looking at this problem more literally.  The “weight “ I’m referring to is physical, and it comes from the overstuffed backpacks that our children lug to and from school everyday.   Our children are becoming virtual pack mules, if you will,  placing undue stress on their developing spines and thus giving birth to a whole host of future, and sometimes immediate, spinal and muscle related problems, including the obvious — back pain. (more…)