Summer Checklist Article
Stephen V. Rapposelli, PT, OCS
Newspaper Article for the Wilmington News Journal
It is hard to believe it, but the school year is approaching
quickly. As you are getting your ‘back to school’
list ready, here are some easy additions that will make life
healthier and happier for your kids as well as yourself:
- Backpacks: Wide straps, rollers, and
lightweight are the buzzwords when buying those new backpacks.
Remember that the total weight of the pack, when fully loaded,
should not exceed 10 per cent of your child’s weight.
This applies to your bag as well, Mom!
- Shoes: Back when I was growing up, parents
thought that wearing sneakers ‘ruined your feet’.
Today’s sneakers are much different. Generally speaking,
you get what you pay for. Look for shoes with good support,
get fitted properly at a shoe store (those feet DID grow
this summer!), and consider pulling out the insoles that
came with the shoe and inserting separately purchased elastogel
inserts. Your kid will love you for it!
- Beds: This applies to EVERYONE! Flip
all the mattresses in the house. By that, I mean flip it
over, and flip it head to foot. Everyone in the house will
sleep better, and going to bed early for the first time
in months won’t seem so bad! If the bed is over 15
years old, it is time to get a new one. Over the years in
our practice, we have come to the conclusion that money
is well spent on what you wear on your feet and what you
sleep on.
- Get your check-up: You have your dental
check-up, and your pre-season physical, so why not get a
physical therapist check-up for your child’s musculoskeletal
system? Kids grow like weeds in July, and their muscles
and joints can get out of balance. A complete evaluation
by an orthopedic PT can uncover potential imbalances that
can lead to injury. I continue to be shocked when I am treating
a high school athlete for an injury, only to find out how
weak or tight or un-agile they really are when challenged.
This can be totally prevented by having them work on their
SPECIFIC problem areas. You as a parent simply can not know
this unless they get evaluated.
- Take better care of yourself: When the
oxygen masks drop down in a plane, you are supposed to put
YOURS on first! Help your kids by helping yourself. September
is stressful for parents, and we frequently put ourselves
last on the list. Use August to START an exercise program,
schedule a massage for you NOW for the middle of September,
and get those nagging aches and pains looked at now. Ten
years from now, your kids will thank you for it!
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