Newsroom Hospital for Special Surgery

Step Up to a New School Year: Tips for Buying Shoes for Your Kids

Tue, 08 Aug 2023 14:08:00 -0400

Health Day highlights tips for buying back to school shoes for your kids.

Buying back-to-school shoes should be more about the right fit than the right look — but with luck you can combine the two.

Shoes play a big part in how kids' feet function and should be selected with care.

"When parents bring their children in with foot pain or an injury, the first thing I do is ask about their shoes. The problem is often inappropriate or poorly fitting footwear," said John S. Blanco, MD, pediatric orthopedic surgeon at HSS.

"Footwear has a lot to do with how their feet function day to day, especially during athletic activities," said Dr. Blanco.

"If we could make sure shoes were the right size, had proper support and were laced up appropriately, we would probably solve 80% of the basic foot problems we see in kids," explained Dr. Blanco.

Shopping for shoes at a specialty store can be helpful because staff there can measure the foot and help select the best shoe for a child's foot type, said Dr. Blanco. That doesn't mean the shoes need to cost a lot.

"The price of the sneaker has nothing to do with the quality of the shoe," Dr. Blanco explained. "I see kids all the time with shoes that may look fancy on the outside, but you look inside and see that they don't provide support."

Read the full article at Healthday.com.

Watch Their Backs -- Don't Overload Those Schoolbags

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 18:06:00 -0400

HealthDay explains how to fit a backpack properly to prevent injury as kids head back-to-school, and includes guidance from HSS pediatric orthopedic surgeons Emily R. Dodwell, MD, MPH, FRCSC, and John S. Blanco, MD.

Dr. Dodwell said, “With a focus on getting back in the classroom and returning to 'normal,' it's easy to overlook possible injuries caused by everyday school supplies.”

She continued, “Backpacks might not seem that high on the list of safety hazards for children, but if too heavy or worn improperly, they can cause pain or injury to muscles and joints.”

Backpacks should never weigh more than 10% to 20% of a kids' body weight, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises. Dr. Blanco explained, “It's not uncommon for students to lug around 30 pounds, which is usually too heavy based on their body weight. Most families have a scale at home and can use it to weigh the backpack and take out items that are not needed for the school day.”

Drs. Dodwell and Blanco offered additional tips for selecting a backpack and keeping kids injury-free, including: choosing a backpack with wide padded shoulder straps and a padded back or waist strap, and teaching young people to pick up a backpack properly by bending at the knees.

Read the full article at Healthday.com.

Additional coverage: USnews.com.

Take a Weight off Kids’ Shoulders: Backpack Safety Tips

Thu, 09 Sep 2021 10:44:00 -0400

Now that children and teenagers are back in the classroom, many are dusting off their trusty backpacks or plan to buy a new one. As in years past, many parents are likely to be surprised by how much kids cram into their backpack and how heavy it becomes. Pediatric orthopedic surgeons at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) have advice for parents and students when choosing and using a backpack to avoid injury.

“With a focus on getting back in the classroom and returning to ‘normal,’ it's easy to overlook possible injuries caused by everyday school supplies," says Emily R. Dodwell, MD, MPH, FRCSC, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) and spokesperson for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. "Backpacks might not seem that high on the list of safety hazards for children, but if too heavy or worn improperly, they can cause pain or injury to muscles and joints.”

It is not unusual for John S. Blanco, MD, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at HSS Long Island in Uniondale, to see more children and teenagers with back or shoulder pain around the start of the school year. The culprit is often a heavy backpack.

“In addition to being concerned about their child’s pain, some parents worry that carrying a heavy backpack every day at school could lead to scoliosis,” Dr. Blanco says. Although lugging around a heavy backpack or wearing it incorrectly could lead to sore muscles, he emphasizes that there is no data to indicate that it causes scoliosis, a hunchback or any long-term damage.

However, all complaints of pain or discomfort should be taken seriously, the doctors say. If a child appears to be struggling with a backpack, Dr. Blanco advises parents to look inside it. Chances are, something can be removed to make it lighter. From toys to video games to athletic footwear they don’t use every day, many young people are carrying around items they don’t need.

The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that backpacks should weigh no more than 10 to 20 percent of a child’s body weight. “It’s not uncommon for students to lug around 30 pounds, which is usually too heavy based on their body weight,” Dr. Blanco says. “Most families have a scale at home and can use it to weigh the backpack and take out items that are not needed for the school day.”

Backpack Safety Tips

The experts offer additional recommendations when choosing and using a backpack:

Select a sturdy backpack with wide, padded shoulder straps and a padded back. Padding makes it more comfortable to wear and protects the back from books and other items with sharp edges.

The backpack should be worn on both shoulders. Students should avoid slinging it over one shoulder. This helps to distribute the weight evenly without putting excessive stress on one side of the body.

Students should be instructed to tighten the shoulder straps so the backpack is close to the body. This will put less strain on the back.

Purchase a backpack with a strap that goes around the waist and encourage kids to use it. This helps distribute the weight more evenly. If a backpack sways from side to side, the body has to work harder to balance it.

The backpack should be organized to make the best use of compartments. Heavier items should be packed closest to the middle of the bag.

Consider a rolling backpack if the school allows it and the child is willing to use it. However, this may not be practical if the student takes the stairs throughout the day.

Students should be encouraged to use the school locker for storage whenever possible.

Children and teenagers should be instructed on how to pick up the backpack properly to avoid muscle strain. They should bend their knees when lifting or wearing a backpack. They should not bend at the waist.

Dr. Blanco notes that sooner or later, many kids get used to the weight of the backpack as their muscles grow stronger. But it’s no fun being in pain, and spending some time to think about backpack safety and engaging in good practices can prevent problems in the first place.

Have a Hunched Upper Back? What to Know About Kyphosis

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 17:43:00 -0400

TheHealthy reports on types of kyphosis, a term used to describe an excessive curvature in the spine that leads to a rounded or hunched upper back, and includes insight from experts including John S. Blanco, MD, pediatric orthopedic surgeon at HSS.

Postural kyphosis is the most common type of kyphosis, and it becomes noticeable when adolescents spend too much time slouching or hunched over, but it is not typically painful. According to Dr. Blanco, “We’ve been seeing a lot more postural kyphosis due to the COVID-19 pandemic because children have been forced to sit at computers for six to eight hours a day for remote schooling.”

Another type is Scheuermann’s Kyphosis. Dr. Blanco explained, “Scheuermann’s kyphosis can appear in juveniles and adolescents and is caused by abnormal growth, which is the result of excessive stresses. A person can also progress from postural kyphosis to Scheuermann’s kyphosis.”

And congenital kyphosis, seen at birth, is rare. “Congenital kyphosis can result in severe deformities at any early age,” added Dr. Blanco.

Kyphosis can be diagnosed with a medical evaluation, and a doctor will examine your spine to determine if the cause of your curvature is postural or structural, said Dr. Blanco. During the exam, doctors will look for any other forms of spinal deformity.

“In those with congenital kyphosis, an MRI scan is frequently ordered to evaluate the spinal cord anatomy,” noted Dr. Blanco. “And in growing children, kyphosis needs to be followed.”

Treatment for kyphosis depends on the cause of the disorder and your age. For congenital kyphosis, physical therapy is often used to improve the core body strength, hamstring flexibility, and shoulder mechanics, cited Dr. Blanco.

Read the full article at TheHealthy.com.