At a time prescribed aeons ago I was set in this body to experience. That cosmic power which created me, which also moves the seas, rotates the earth, directs the heavens, gives life, takes it away, is everything. And that power which set the universe in motion and created me did not abandon me when I became free of the security of my earthly mother’s womb. It is still with me and protects me as it moves all forms toward their final predestined goal.

It is not mine to educatedly ask ‘why’ or ‘where’, but to innately live; and live to help my fellow creatures. And with this Chiropractic adjustment I use all the powers and energies moving this universe, to allow my fellow creatures the chance to live, free of dis-ease.

I wish nothing in return, only the chance to GIVE. I give with the only thing I have, LOVE. And I love all by removing that which interferes with 100% LIFE. I do not look to others for direction, I look within. I am a perfect expression of God living 24 hours each day for others. I am a PRINCIPLED CHIROPRACTOR.”

-BJ Palmer

The post Principled Chiropractor | Tulsa Chiropractor appeared first on Tulsa Chiropractor | Schluter Chiropractic.

Beginning in the 1970′s, Dr. Chung Ha Suh, Ph.D., and his colleagues at the Biomechanics Department of the University of Colorado began a series of studies showing that just 10mmHG pressure (about the same as the weight of a dime resting on the top of your hand) could cause a 40-60% decrease in electrical transmission down the course of the nerve. Chiropractors had long claimed that minimal pressure on nerves could have a significant physiological impact. This study gave credence to such claims.

Now we have all picked up a dime and put it in our pocket at some point or another. Not even 2 minutes later we have forgotten that that dime was in our pocket. Not because we don’t have the correct concept of the value of the dime, but because the dime weighs hardly anything. It is not the same with our nerves. Our nerves are delicate fibers that with a slight amount of pressure placed on them can lose up to 60% of their functional ability. Would it be acceptable for you to lose 60% of anything that was important? Well, in our bodies, our nervous system is the most important organ. It controls everything, from how you move and feel to how all of your organs function, including your heart.

We know that a 60% loss is a big loss and we wouldn’t want that for ourselves, so let’s look for a compromise. What percent loss would be acceptable for you in your nervous system? 30%, 20%, 5%? What percent loss would be acceptable for your family to live with in their nervous system? Would it be OK for your child to grow up getting only 80% of their nerve function they should be getting? How about just 95%?

The weight of the dime is minute, but the effect is the same as to what happens to your nerves when your spine is out of place. One subluxation in your spine adds pressure to your nerves that reduces the amount of information that your nerves can carry. What part of your body do you want this reduced nerve communication to go to? What should you do to ensure you don’t have a loss of nerve communication? The chiropractor is the only person who is trained specifically to find these problems. Through specific adjustments, they can also correct them. So get checked regularly and give your family the same opportunity to experience a life free of subluxations.

The post The Weight of a Dime | Tulsa Chiropractor appeared first on Tulsa Chiropractor | Schluter Chiropractic.

So, which of the reasons below help you to maintain balance between your body and your mind?

Check out the original graphic here:http://www.treadmillreviews.com/blog/mental-benefits-exercise/

The post 12 Mental Benefits of Exercise | Tulsa chiropractor appeared first on Tulsa Chiropractor | Schluter Chiropractic.

Now, we’re not saying that anger or any emotions for that matter are necessarily bad. Moderate amounts of anger from time to time do not adversely affect health, and experts agree that bottling up anger is just as destructive to our health as ranting and raging. However, intense anger experienced on a frequent basis is another matter.

Dr. Laura Kubzansky, MPH, who is an associate professor at the Harvard School of Public Health, has studied the effects of emotions and stress on cardiovascular disease. She said, “Being able to tell people that you’re angry can be extremely functional. But those who rage at others and who throw things or hit walls may have an increased risk of heart disease, as may people who suppress their rage. Either end of the continuum is problematic.”

It is believed that it is the release of stress hormones in response to anger that damages the cardiovascular system. Intense anger floods the body with adrenaline and cortisol, which can cause wear and tear on the cardiovascular system when it becomes a chronic condition. Anger can also increase the risk of atherosclerosis. Anger causes the heart to pump harder, raises blood pressure, constricts blood vessels and releases higher levels of glucose into the blood, which can cause damage to the walls of your arteries in the form of fatty plaque buildup.

The continual flow of stress hormones can lead to other health problems as well, such as increased anxiety, depression, insomnia, digestive problems, headaches, skin problems and stroke. So it is important to learn how to manage your anger appropriately so that it does not continue to have adverse effects on your health.

Both explosions of anger and repressing anger are damaging to yourself and others. However, there are some things that you can do as a safe and healthy outlet for your anger that can also help decrease stress you may be feeling:

• Accept that you feel angry – Many people keep their anger under wraps because they believe it is “bad” to feel that way, or perhaps they have experienced anger from a parent or spouse and have vowed they will never be like that. Feeling anger is perfectly normal, and expressing it in a healthy way is not destructive to you or to others.
• Take time out – If you feel that you are losing control of your anger, remove yourself from the situation for a while until you calm down. Take slow, deep breaths and go for a walk, if possible.
• Get regular exercise – Exercising or practicing a sport is a great way to release steam and keep your emotions at a more even level.
• Learn to relax – Consider taking a class in yoga and/or meditation to help you achieve a greater state of overall calm.
• Talk to someone – Discussing your feelings of anger with a counselor or therapist is a good way of addressing underlying issues that may be contributing to your feelings of anger.

The post Anger and Your Health | Tulsa Chiropractor appeared first on Tulsa Chiropractor | Schluter Chiropractic.

It’s not actually the cold, snow or rain that causes an increase in joint pain, but rather a change in the barometric pressure. Robert Jamison, PhD, a professor at Harvard Medical School and chief psychologist at the Pain Management Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, and several colleagues performed experiments with chronic pain sufferers to investigate this phenomenon. The resulting study reported that “67.9 percent of the people surveyed responded that they were sure changes in the weather had an effect on their pain. Most of the patients reported that they can feel a change in their pain before rain or cold weather occur.”

Jamison likens the joints to a balloon. “When a balloon is inflated, it has the maximum inside and outside pressure. High barometric pressure that pushes against the body from the outside keeps tissues from expanding.” But when the weather changes, the barometer drops, reducing atmospheric pressure and allowing tissues to swell. This can put increased pressure on the nerves that send pain signals. “It doesn’t take much expansion or contraction of tissue to affect a pain trigger,” Jamison adds.

Moving to a warmer climate unfortunately will not help the problem in most cases. Jamison says “There’s no heaven on earth. If you have awful back or neck pain … there’s a good chance that that pain will travel with you.” According to Jamison’s research, there is no area of the country where people experience less pain. The patients with chronic pain who lived in San Diego reported just as much pain as their counterparts in Boston.

So what can you do? Well the problem doesn’t just lie in the reading on the barometer. If that were the case, everybody would feel pain as the pressure changed. There has to be an existing problem with the joint to begin with that then reacts to the change in pressure. A person whose body has joints that are functioning the way they are supposed to is able to tolerate these small changes in pressure and adapt to the any small swelling to might may occur as a result. Someone whose joints have a problem or are not functioning properly will not be able to tolerate or adapt to the swelling that may occur and this causes pain. The best option, see a chiropractor and find out if your pain is due to dysfunction in a joint. This can include spine, knees, elbows and just about any joint in your body.

You may not be able to avoid the weather but hopefully we can help you avoid the pain.

Dr. Jason Schluter is a Chiropractor in Tulsa, OK at Schluter Chiropractic.

Schluter Chiropractic is conveniently located off Memorial Drive in Tulsa, Oklahoma and provides quality chiropractic care to Tulsa and the surrounding areas.
To schedule an appointment, call (918) 664-3571 or visit www.DrSchluter.com.

The post Why Do My Joints Ache When the Weather Changes? | Tulsa Chiropractor appeared first on Tulsa Chiropractor | Schluter Chiropractic.

So why has there been such a dramatic increase in the prevalence of ADHD? A few years ago, a handful of studies found a strong correlation between ADHD and what kids were consuming, and there was a strong push to attempt treating ADHD with diet modification. However, this approach has been met with very mixed results. In the end, some doctors decided no conclusive evidence was found to link specific dietary factors and ADHD. As a result, diet modification lost a lot of its support within the medical community as a possible treatment. However, that started to change with the publication of a seminal British study in 2007 that is now commonly referred to as the “Southampton Study”.

In the Southampton Study, a drink containing a mixture of artificial food coloring and the preservative sodium benzoate was found to aggravate hyperactivity in three-year-olds and did the same thing to a lesser extent in eight- to nine-year-olds. A 2010 study published in The American Journal of Psychiatry found similar results, and suggested that children made more hyperactive by food additives were likely to have problems with the genes that regulate histamine release (in response to potential allergens). In February 2011, another follow-up study was published in the prestigious journal The Lancet, which found that nearly two-thirds of the children who were following an elimination diet (in which food additives were eliminated in favor of fresh grains, meats, vegetables, and fruit) experienced significant reduction of their symptoms of hyperactivity and defiant behavior.

This research was strong enough to restart discussions about the possible role of food additives and diet in causing or aggravating ADHD, and has even led to the British government requesting that manufacturers remove most food dyes from their products. The European Union now requires warning labels on products that contain any of six food dyes that “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.”

There has been a recent resurgence in interest in “elimination diets” as a possible approach to treating ADHD. Even though they may not work for all children with ADHD, they may work in a significant enough percentage of cases to warrant their use. Basically, such a diet consists of eating more protein (meat, eggs, cheese, nuts, etc.), eating fewer simple carbohydrates (candies, corn syrup, breads made from white flour, etc.) and eating more complex carbohydrates (whole grains, fresh vegetables and fruits). Proponents of such diets also recommend taking supplements of omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) and a general vitamin supplement.

The real “elimination” part of the diet involves trying to remove from it ingredients or food additives suspected of causing or aggravating ADHD to see if not eating them results in fewer symptoms. These additives include sodium benzoate and food dyes Yellow Nos. 5, 6 and 10, Red Nos. 3 and 40, and Blue Nos. 1 and 2.

Chiropractic care has also been shown to improve ADHD and when combined with diet modification and, on occasion, supplementation, the results can be very good. If you have any questions about how chiropractic might be able to help your child with ADHD, please let us know.

You may also be interested in this website which lists many of the studies and research done on ADHD. http://www.chiro.org/pediatrics/ADD.shtml

Dr. Jason Schluter is a Chiropractor in Tulsa, OK at Schluter Chiropractic.

Schluter Chiropractic is conveniently located off Memorial Drive in Tulsa, Oklahoma and provides quality chiropractic care to Tulsa and the surrounding areas.
To schedule an appointment, call (918) 664-3571 or visit www.DrSchluter.com.

The post ADHD and Diet | Tulsa Chiropractor appeared first on Tulsa Chiropractor | Schluter Chiropractic.

The post Fever! | Tulsa Chiropractor appeared first on Tulsa Chiropractor | Schluter Chiropractic.

Dr. Jason Schluter is a Chiropractor in Tulsa, OK at Schluter Chiropractic.

Schluter Chiropractic is conveniently located off Memorial Drive in Tulsa, Oklahoma and provides quality chiropractic care to Tulsa and the surrounding areas.
To schedule an appointment, call (918) 664-3571 or visit www.DrSchluter.com.

The post Rethink Chiropractic | Tulsa Chiropractor appeared first on Tulsa Chiropractor | Schluter Chiropractic.

So where should we be looking for tips to healthier eating? The good news is that we can learn a lot from the traditional cuisines in other parts of the world. Studies have shown that populations in places like Japan, India and countries around the Mediterranean Sea have far lower rates of these diseases, due in part to the health of their cuisine.

By world cuisine, we do not mean the Americanized form that has been adopted by fast food companies such as Taco Bell and Pizza Hut. Traditional Mexican and Italian dishes can be very healthy and, unlike items on the menu at these restaurants, they do not rely heavily on cheese as a main ingredient. Following are some of the health benefits of different cuisines from around the world.

Japanese – The Japanese have the lowest obesity rate (3%) and the highest life expectancy in the world. And this is not due to genetics. When the Japanese move to the West and begin to consume a Western diet, their obesity rates quickly become comparable to ours. Their diet is based on rice, lots of different vegetables and fatty fish. Fatty fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acid, which has been shown to have health benefits for both the cardiovascular system and the brain, warding off diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Indian – The greatest advantage to Indian cuisine is its use of spices. Some dishes are hot, but not all of them. The blend of spices used in Indian dishes, such as turmeric, ginger and cumin, not only impart incredible flavor and aroma to each dish, but may also provide a variety of health benefits. Turmeric is perhaps the king of Indian spices—it is a staple in any Indian household in much the same way that salt and pepper are in the Western world. It has a popular reputation for protecting against cancer and may ease symptoms of arthritis.

Mediterranean – This includes cuisines from Greece, Spain, Italy and southern France. Its main benefit is that it contains large amounts of fresh vegetables and fruits, along with healthy fats such as olive oil. Although some would not consider duck or goose fat healthy, the French (who consume more of this fat than anyone else) have among the lowest rates of heart disease in the world. Mediterranean cuisine also has a greater reliance on fish for protein, rather than meat and cheese, which are eaten in much smaller quantities. This cuisine is chock full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that protect against cancer and heart disease.

Mexican – Real Mexican food combines basic, healthy ingredients that give the body everything it needs nutritionally (beans, rice and corn are the staples). Many dishes allow for a slow release of carbohydrates into the system, lowering blood sugar and in some cases even reversing diabetes. Many of the dishes also feature heart-healthy tomatoes and chili peppers.

So pick up a cookbook of traditional recipes from some of these countries and give them a try. They’ll add some variety to your weekly menu PLUS they may help improve your health!

Dr. Jason Schluter is a Chiropractor in Tulsa, OK at Schluter Chiropractic.

Schluter Chiropractic is conveniently located off Memorial Drive in Tulsa, Oklahoma and provides quality chiropractic care to Tulsa and the surrounding areas.
To schedule an appointment, call (918) 664-3571 or visit www.DrSchluter.com.

The post What We Can Learn From How Other Countries Eat | Tulsa Chiropractor appeared first on Tulsa Chiropractor | Schluter Chiropractic.

For this reason, the best policy is to visit your chiropractor on a regular basis, much as you would visit a dentist to have your teeth cleaned from time to time so as to avoid cavities. But the frequency of adjustments is primarily based on your health and wellness goals, the severity of any specific issues and how quickly your body responds to treatment.

If you are a person who follows a healthy diet, gets adequate amounts of exercise and has a relatively stress-free life, then a visit between once a month and semi-annually may be all that is necessary. This allows your chiropractor to treat any emerging subluxations and get rid of them before they become a problem. If you wait until you have pain, it will likely take more chiropractic adjustments to heal the problem than if you had gone in for a periodic adjustment.

Many chiropractors, including ourselves, notice that regular once or twice a month patients rarely have much going on and seem to always be much healthier over all. They get sick less often and don’t catch every bug that goes around. They have better spinal range of motion and they tend to not have accelerated spinal degeneration as seen on their x-rays. What we do consistently makes the biggest impact in our health. It doesn’t matter if it’s brushing our teeth, daily exercise and stretching, eating well 85+% of the time or monthly chiropractic adjustments. Consistency is the key.

Certain circumstances, such as an injury or some type of trauma, may call for frequent adjustments at the beginning, gradually tapering off as you heal. For minor to moderate subluxations, a single treatment may be sufficient to relieve pain but usually doesn’t correct the problem completely. However, the long-term success of the treatment also depends on how your body reacts to the adjustments. Some people’s muscles, joints and ligaments are in excellent condition and once a misalignment has been corrected, they can go for months until needing another. Others, particularly in cases where there is a lot of stress on the body through repetitive motion, bad posture, bad muscle tone, etc., have to train their body to “hold” the alignment through periodic readjustments.

A consultation with your chiropractor can tell you the frequency of chiropractic adjustments that will provide you with the most benefit and will work with you to develop a treatment program that includes adjustments, lifestyle advice and exercises you can do at home to speed the healing process. Once healing has occurred, it may also benefit you to visit your chiropractor from time to time for a preventative adjustment to help you continue to remain pain-free.

Dr. Jason Schluter is a Chiropractor in Tulsa, OK at Schluter Chiropractic.

Schluter Chiropractic is conveniently located off Memorial Drive in Tulsa, Oklahoma and provides quality chiropractic care to Tulsa and the surrounding areas.
To schedule an appointment, call (918) 664-3571 or visit www.DrSchluter.com.

The post How Frequently Do I Need to be Adjusted? | Tulsa Chiropractor appeared first on Tulsa Chiropractor | Schluter Chiropractic.

The average chiropractic education consists of the following:

• Undergraduate Education
• Chiropractic Education
• State and Federal Licensure>
• Continuing Education and Training

Chiropractors must complete 90 hours or approximately 3 years of undergraduate (pre-med) coursework emphasized in chemistry, physics, anatomy and the biological sciences as well as basic college courses before being accepted into chiropractic school. Many decide to go ahead and spend the extra year to get their bachelor’s degree and there are some states that even require licensure candidates to hold a bachelor’s degree as well.

After completing their prerequisite undergraduate education, aspiring chiropractors begin their chiropractic education spending over 4000 classroom hours as well as over 1000 hours of supervised clinical training while in chiropractic school. The first two years of study are very similar to that of medical school while the remaining years are focused more on the chiropractic sciences as well as clinical work. Because a chiropractor deals with such a wide variety of physical conditions, a broad education is necessary. They learn all about the structure and function of the human body, how health is achieved and maintained, and the disease processes, with an emphasis on spinal functions and disorders as they relate to an individual’s overall health.

Before receiving a license to practice, a graduate of chiropractic school must complete and pass the four parts (and in some cases a physiotherapy part) of the exam provided by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners. Many states also require licensure candidates to pass a state exam as well, including some on chiropractic law and additional areas of medical knowledge.

As with any other doctor, chiropractors are required to complete continuing education courses as a condition of license renewal each year.

In order to become a Doctor of Chiropractic, chiropractic students must go through a program every bit as strenuous and in-depth as other health care practitioners. To help demonstrate this better is the following graphic.

Dr. Jason Schluter is a Chiropractor in Tulsa, OK at Schluter Chiropractic.

Schluter Chiropractic is conveniently located off Memorial Drive in Tulsa, Oklahoma and provides quality chiropractic care to Tulsa and the surrounding areas.
To schedule an appointment, call (918) 664-3571 or visit www.DrSchluter.com.

The post What Does it Take to Become a Chiropractor? appeared first on Tulsa Chiropractor | Schluter Chiropractic.

Not only is it obvious that bad physical health will affect your mental well-being, but our thoughts also have a profound influence on many parts of the body, including the immune, nervous, endocrine, digestive and cardiovascular systems. In fact, our thoughts are one of the three causes of subluxations in our spine along with trauma and toxins.

Since the discovery of the opiate receptor in 1973, scientific research has shown how emotional states are caused by the release of hormones and neurotransmitters, a process that is greatly influenced by events in our lives as well as our thoughts and emotions. Researchers now understand that these “molecules of emotion” (as the author Candace Pert has described them) affect a much larger number of body systems than previously thought. Anyone who has experienced “butterflies in the stomach” before an interview or exam can certainly testify to the truth of this!

The stress response evolved in order to prepare the body for fight or flight in the presence of great danger such as a lion or an enemy from another tribe. Even though we may be surrounded by 21^st century technology, human physiology is still based on what we needed as hunter-gatherers. The stress response is designed to be a short-term reaction to immediate danger that is then followed by relief and relaxation after that immediate danger has passed. In response to serious threat, the body will release chemicals such as adrenaline (epinephrine) and cortisol, which divert blood away from non-critical organs in the body such as the digestive system and send it to the muscles. The heart rate also goes up in readiness for intense activity.

As a short-term response, stress has few lasting physiological effects and stress chemicals break down quickly in the body once the stressor is no longer there. However, most physical threats in our modern world are imagined rather than real. And our modern-day fears and anxieties can lurk beneath the surface for weeks or months. So it turns out that the kind of physiological responses helpful for fighting a lion are not so useful in helping us cope with our modern causes of stress. In fact, our bodies’ response to stressful situations (designed to help us cope with short-term, fight-or-flight situations) can even have a detrimental impact on the body when it’s switched on over prolonged periods. Digestive disorders such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), high blood pressure, low immunity and even chronic illness such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) are just some examples of illnesses that can be brought on by long-term stress. In addition, researchers have also discovered that stress can worsen many preexisting medical conditions and can lead to changes in the brain. These changes tend to make chronically stressed people more impatient and aggressive. This can further reduce their ability to cope with problems.

While we are still running on what may be considered outdated stress technology in our bodies, we certainly do not have to be controlled by it. Fortunately for us, the fight or flight response triggered by our sympathetic nervous system is not the only mode our bodies can operate in. We can also learn to trigger the parasympathetic “rest or digest” mode, which allows the body to rest and reverse the physiological changes brought about by stress.

Making sure you have enough time to unwind is critical to combating the effects of stress throughout the day, week and month. So is eating well and exercising. And learning a relaxation technique such as meditation can also help. Yoga is a particularly good “stress buster” as it combines gentle exercise with meditative breathing and relaxation (and can be good for keeping your back healthy). Don’t let stress get the better of you and your body.

Dr. Jason Schluter is a Chiropractor in Tulsa, OK at Schluter Chiropractic.

Schluter Chiropractic is conveniently located off Memorial Drive in Tulsa, Oklahoma and provides quality chiropractic care to Tulsa and the surrounding areas.
To schedule an appointment, call (918) 664-3571 or visit www.DrSchluter.com.

The post Stress and the Mind-Body Connection appeared first on Tulsa Chiropractor | Schluter Chiropractic.

And yet most people have bad posture. It is not surprising, given how many hours we spend sitting at a desk. Both bad ergonomics and the number of hours spent sitting without getting up and moving around has led to an epidemic of bad posture – and subsequently many cases of back and neck pain.

According to Dr. Roger Sperry, who received a Nobel Prize for brain research, “The more mechanically distorted a person is, the less energy is available for thinking, metabolism and healing.” Proper posture opens the airways and expands the rib cage, allowing us to breathe more deeply. Our lung capacity is reduced by as much as 30% when we slouch. A brain receiving its full measure of oxygen is more powerful and has a better ability to concentrate. Your muscles and organs will also benefit from added oxygen, giving you more energy.

Poor posture also makes you tire more easily. Our skeletal system was designed to perform optimally when we are in the correct posture. The spine takes the majority of the weight-bearing stress both when we are moving and sitting. However, bad posture moves the weight to areas of the skeleton that were not designed to take a great amount of force. This makes our muscles, tendons and ligaments work harder to keep us upright and puts excessive stress on less sturdy parts of our bones and joints. Over time, bad posture causes changes to the spine that can become permanent, constricting nerves and blood vessels and leading to chronic pain.

Studies have shown that people experiencing depression felt markedly better when their posture improved, and it also increases self-confidence. A study by researchers at Ohio State University instructed subjects to sit up straight or to slouch. Of those who sat up straight, “Their confident, upright posture gave them more confidence in their own thoughts, whether they were positive or negative,” according to co-author of the study, Richard Perry, a professor of psychology at the university.

If you have proper posture you should be able to draw a straight line down from the earlobe through the shoulder, hip, knee and mid-ankle. Your chin should be parallel with the floor. Most people’s heads jut forward due to crouching over laptops and hand-held devices like mobile phones and tablets. When the head juts only an inch forward from the spine it essentially doubles the amount of head weight the musculoskeletal system must absorb.

To help maintain your posture throughout the day, choose an office chair that is ergonomically designed, with extra support for the lower back. You should also get up and move around regularly throughout the day. Furthermore, it’s important to strengthen your core muscles, which help to promote good posture. Yoga and Pilates are good forms of exercise for overall stretching and strengthening and will enable you to maintain good posture.

Dr. Jason Schluter is a Chiropractor in Tulsa, OK at Schluter Chiropractic.

Schluter Chiropractic is conveniently located off Memorial Drive in Tulsa, Oklahoma and provides quality chiropractic care to Tulsa and the surrounding areas.
To schedule an appointment, call (918) 664-3571 or visit www.DrSchluter.com.

The post Good Posture Matters | Tulsa Chiropractor appeared first on Tulsa Chiropractor | Schluter Chiropractic.

Healthcare researchers and providers alike are growing increasingly concerned that American kids are suffering from back pain earlier in their lives and in larger numbers than ever before. And experts closest to the problem believe that overweight, improperly designed, and misused backpacks may be a big part of the reason why.

Short-Term Injuries and Longer-Term Concerns 

With an estimated 40 million school-age children carrying backpacks in America, it’s not surprising that there are some book bag-related injuries every year. Since 2000, the U.S. Product Safety Commission has reported that children and their backpacks make roughly 7,000 trips to the emergency room annually. However, many observers believe that the real toll is actually far higher since the vast majority of such injuries go unreported and many kids are treated by a family doctor or not treated at all.

While it is not clear how many acute injuries actually result from wearing backpacks as opposed to tripping over them or being hit by them, doctors who treat back problems regularly—especially chiropractic physicians—see worrying signs that heavier backpacks are setting the stage for more serious health issues in the future, including chronic back, neck and shoulder pain. Some chiropractors estimate that as many as 75% to 80% of the teenage patients they treat have postural problems directly related to overweight backpacks.

Why the Heavier Bags? 

Across the past ten years, several factors have come together to increase the amount of weight young students are carrying in their book bags:

• Increases in the amount of homework being assigned to students at a younger age typically mean more heavy books carried between home and school.

• A trend toward removing lockers and individual desks from schools in many cases requires kids to carry all their belongings with them during the day.

• Reduced time between classes or fewer trips to the locker can mean heavier loads for students.

• Longer school days or increased participation in before-school and after-school activities often translates into more supplies and equipment as well as more time wearing the backpack.

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons recommends that a backpack should not be any heavier than 15% of a child’s body weight. But as early as 2001, researchers at Simmons College in Massachusetts found that 55% of the 345 children they studied were carrying backpacks that exceeded the recommended weight limit, often by a substantial amount. One third of those students said that they had already experienced back pain. Today, the American Chiropractic Association advises parents to limit the weight of a child’s backpack to no more than 5% to 10% of body weight.

Warning Signs

If you see any of the following signs, it may be time to lighten the load, help your child choose a different backpack or talk about how it’s being used.

• Pain in the back, neck, shoulders or knees
• Red marks left on shoulders by backpack straps
• Tingling or numbness in the arms
• Trouble getting the backpack on or off
• Bending forward or “hunching over” to shift weight from the shoulders to the back

Choosing the Right Backpack and Using it Correctly

A good quality backpack with proper ergonomic features doesn’t have to be expensive. They’re available at many sporting goods stores and discount outlets. Experts offer the following advice:

• Get the size and fit right first. The right backpack should fit between the top of your child’s shoulders and lower back. Bigger is not better, since having more space available creates the potential for a heavier backpack.

• Find one with shoulder straps that are wide, padded and adjustable. These distribute the weight more broadly across the shoulders and chest while allowing the backpack to be fitted snuggly to your child’s body.

• For older students, consider a backpack with chest straps and a hip belt. Chest straps and a hip belt redistribute weight even further and bring the pack closer to the wearer’s body.

• Look for a padded back that will add comfort and protection.

• Choose a backpack with multiple smaller compartments. These help distribute the weight inside the bag and keep it stable.

Once your child has the right bag, it’s just as important to encourage him or her to use it correctly. That means wearing it on both shoulders with the straps tightened so that it hangs no more than four inches below the waist.

How Your Chiropractor Can Help 

Using a backpack should not cause any pain or discomfort under normal circumstances. If your child is showing signs of back, neck or should pain, we encourage you to call your chiropractic physician today. In addition to addressing any current problems that your child may be experiencing, we can also offer instruction about good nutrition and sleep habits that will support your child’s healthy development.

Dr. Jason Schluter is a Chiropractor in Tulsa, OK at Schluter Chiropractic.

Schluter Chiropractic is conveniently located off Memorial Drive in Tulsa, Oklahoma and provides quality chiropractic care to Tulsa and the surrounding areas.
To schedule an appointment, call (918) 664-3571 or visit www.DrSchluter.com.

The post Having the Right Backpack and Using It Correctly | Tulsa Chiropractor appeared first on Tulsa Chiropractor | Schluter Chiropractic.