Dr. Judd Lowrey's Sports and Wellness Chiropractic Blog

It is time again to get ready for the school year ahead. Of course, preparing for back to school includes buying necessary supplies and clothes, but it should also include creating a plan for wellness to ensure your children stay healthy throughout the year. Along with having a trusted pediatrician who you can call when injuries and illnesses occur, it also makes sense to partner with a chiropractor who can help prevent and treat many soft tissue injuries that commonly occur in childhood.

Beware of Overloaded Backpacks!
Surprisingly, backpacks are a leading cause of soft tissue injuries during the school year.  Yep, backpacks!

Loaded with binders, textbooks, and now even laptops and tablets, children’s backpacks are often tipping the scales at over 30 lbs. Lugging this amount of weight can certainly lead to significant back, shoulder, and neck injuries – particularly when the weight isn’t evenly distributed.

According to the American Occupational Therapy Association, a child’s backpack should never weigh more than 15% of their body weight. And, a clear indicator that a backpack is too heavy is when a child is in a stooped position when carrying a backpack. Other signs of backpack-related problems include tingling in the arms and complaints of back and shoulder pain.

Needless to say, it’s very important to choose your child’s backpack carefully and to watch for signs of problems that can potentially turn into painful injuries. For questions about backpack safety or to receive a backpack check and fitting, it’s a smart idea to consult with a chiropractor who can evaluate the distribution of weight across the back and correct issues that could cause injury to the muscles and other soft tissues.

Treating Strains and Sprains
Like backpacks, after school sports are notorious for causing many childhood injuries. Strains and sprains commonly occur in children playing on the playground or participating in after school sports. These often happen due to trips and falls or children simply playing too hard.

If a fracture or break is suspected, it’s only prudent to seek medical assistance. However, in many cases, chiropractic treatment can be extremely beneficial. Treatments such as Active Release Technique (ART) can significantly help heal injured tissues while increasing range of motion, strength, and flexibility.

As we get closer to the start of school, we encourage you to visit our website and contact us for an evaluation. We’re dedicated to being a partner in your children’s wellness throughout their school years and beyond.

Lowrey Chiropractic, Dr. Judd Lowrey, D.C.

5007 Windplay Drive, Suite 2, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762

Phone: (916) 941-7508

www.lowreychiropractic.com

With summer now winding down, many of us with children are beginning to turn our attention to the upcoming school year. Along with getting the necessary school supplies, clothes, and shoes, it’s also a good time to reconnect with your children’s healthcare professionals. Of course, you should have readily available the contact details of your pediatrician and dentist. However, with school sports programs starting in the early fall, it’s also a smart idea to include the phone number of a chiropractor who specializes in family care.

School sports-related injuries have become increasingly common. This certainly includes broken bones due to contact sports such as football and basketball. However, soft tissue injuries affecting muscles, tendons, and ligaments are happening more frequently as children are increasingly participating in competitive sports, and at a younger age.

While some of these injuries will heal on their own by taking the RICE approach of Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation, others will be more serious requiring the care of a doctor with special training in these types of injuries.

Strains and sprains are the most common types of soft tissue injuries and commonly occur in active children who do sports or just play hard. They often happen due to ankle twisting or by a trip or fall. Symptoms are typically similar to those of a broken bone. If an injured area is significantly painful, bruised, or swollen, it is a good idea to seek medical assistance. In many cases, a splint or temporary cast can support and protect the injured area until it is healed.

Other times, follow-up care that includes specialized chiropractic treatments such as Active Release Technique (ART) can help separate, release, and stretch connective tissue to help restore the vascular and lymphatic circulation of the injured area. The goal is always to increase range of motion, strength, and flexibility while also eliminating pain and discomfort. These treatments can also help prevent re-injury.

Without a doubt, school sports can help children gain confidence and self- esteem, and also help promote long-term health and fitness. By taking a proactive approach when sports-related injuries occur, you can help your child heal quicker while also minimizing the chance of chronic or permanent injuries.