After the experience of a nine-month pregnancy and delivery, few of life’s pleasures measure up to taking the new baby out to meet the world. That could be in the form of a walk, run or hike. The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) has some thoughts for you to keep in mind on how to best enjoy that experience and avoid injury.

Workers who lift for a living need to take longer or more frequent breaks than they now do to avoid back injury, according to a new study at Ohio State University. The study also suggests that people who are new on the job need to take breaks even more often than experienced workers, and that the risk of injury is higher at the end of a work shift.

Despite the high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain during pregnancy, few women in
underserved populations receive treatment for their low back pain. Moreover, researchers
found that pain in a previous pregnancy may predict a high risk for musculoskeletal
complaints in future pregnancies. 85 percent of women who experienced pain in a previous
pregnancy reported pain during their current pregnancy.

Chiropractic services are part of the Standard Medical Benefits Package available to all eligible veterans. Similar to other specialties, access to VA chiropractic services is by referral from a VA primary care or specialty provider. VA provides these services on-site at one or more VA facilities in each Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN). VA facilities that do not have on-site chiropractic clinics provide these services via the VA Community Care Program or other community care mechanisms.

Here are more strategies to prevent injuries when lifting and carrying luggage:

• If using a backpack, make sure it has two padded and adjustable shoulder straps. Choose one with several compartments to secure various-sized items, packing the heavier things low and towards the center. Always wear a backpack on both shoulders—slinging it over one shoulder does not allow weight to be distributed evenly, which can cause muscle strain.

According to the U.S. Consumer Products safety Commission, in one year more than 50,000 people were treated in hospital emergency rooms, doctors’ offices, clinics and other medical settings for injuries related to luggage.

Here are some strategies to prevent injuries when lifting and carrying luggage:

• Pack lightly. when possible, pack items in a few smaller bags instead of one large luggage piece. It is better—and may prevent muscle sprains and strains—to carry a lighter bag in each hand rather than one heavy bag in one hand or over one shoulder.

Here are some simple guidelines to prevent any unnecessary backpack-related injuries to your child throughout the school year:

Good posture is the correct alignment of body parts supported by the right amount of muscle tension against gravity. Without posture and the muscles that control it, we would simply fall to the ground. Several muscle groups, including the hamstrings and large back muscles, are critically important in maintaining good posture. While the ligaments help to hold the skeleton together, these postural muscles, when functioning properly, prevent the forces of gravity from pushing us over forward.

Poor posture can lead to excessive strain on our postural muscles and may even cause them to lose tone when held in certain positions for long periods of time. For example, you can typically see this in people who bend forward at the waist for a prolonged time in the workplace. Their postural muscles are more prone to injury and back pain.

Chiropractic colleges accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) offer Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree programs. (CCE is the agency certified by the U.S. Department of education to accredit chiropractic colleges in the United States.) Admission to a chiropractic college requires a minimum of 90 semester hour credits of undergraduate study, mostly in the sciences.