September 2011 eNewsletter
A Note from CCM Leadership
Fall is a great time of year for reflection as the year is
coming to an end. At the Centers for Complementary Medicine (CCM)
we are reflecting on a year of moves and new services. Here's a
quick update!
Our Midtown CCM location has moved! We are just a block
west of the Franklin Medical Offices at 1960 N. Ogden Street in
central Denver at the site of the former Children's Hospital.
This new space has been our dream for the past five years! So, if
you live or work in the central Denver area, call us at
303-764-8500 to schedule an appointment. The Midtown building has
its own parking garage and a separate lot across the street which
makes parking easy in light of the road work and construction
taking place in the area.
Another exciting addition to CCM is our Integrative Medicine
practice starting in October. If you want support and guidance
while making lifestyle changes, Dr. Tracy McCubbin may be the
answer. Dr. McCubbin will provide a consultative practice focusing
on the fundamentals of good nutrition, exercise, stress management,
herbals & supplements. Acupuncture, Chiropractic, and
Therapeutic Massage may also be recommended to complement your
conventional care. We will highlight the Integrative Medicine
practice in future issues but in the meantime, feel free to call us
if you have questions.
We will continue to look for ways to help you THRIVE!
Be Well,
Melissa Glassey
Check out our new
location!
Our Midtown Medical Office location has moved just two blocks
West into a new space. Here is our new contact information:
1960 N. Ogden St, Suite 100
Denver, CO 80218
303-764-8500
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A Word from our
Providers
Back to Backpacks
As quickly as they arrived, summer days are beginning to dwindle
and the "back-to-school" season is upon us again. You can't go many
places these days without the constant reminder of all the gadgets,
gear and tools that every kid "must have" to make it through
another year.
Without even checking the calendar, I can tell this shift is
upon us again when I start hearing the same round of questions that
I get every year. From backpacks to roller bags to messenger bags
parents are constantly asking which one is the best for their
child. Students are carrying more and more weight with each
passing year and the resultant back pain is being seen at younger
ages all the time.
This new back pain trend among youngsters isn't surprising when
you consider the disproportionate amounts of weight they carry in
their backpacks - often slung over just one shoulder. As more
and more school districts - many of them in urban areas - are
removing lockers from the premises, students now have to carry
their books with them all day long. The problem has become so
widespread in fact that some states have passed legislation that
would force school districts to develop ways of reducing the weight
of students' backpacks.
So what is the best option for hauling around all of this
weight? The most important thing to watch is how much weight the
children are carrying in relation to their own size. You
should make sure that your child's backpack weighs no more than 5
to 10 percent of his or her body weight. A heavier backpack will
cause the child to bend forward in an attempt to balance the weight
on his or her back, rather than on the shoulders by the straps.
Although the use of roller bags (backpacks on wheels) has become
popular in recent years, they should really only be used in more
extreme cases, and on a limited basis if possible. The
twisted walking posture required to pull them, combined with the
difficulty of maneuvering them up and down stairs will often negate
the benefit of not carrying the weight on the back.
An evenly positioned, two strap backpack is almost always the
safest option as it allows equal distribution of weight across the
body. The bag should never hang more than four inches below
the waistline as this also causes forward bending to balance out
the weight. Though not always the "cool" way to do it, always
encourage your kids to wear their bags across both shoulders, not
slung over one arm. Lugging the bag around by one strap can cause
the disproportionate shift of weight to one side, leading to neck
and muscle spasms, as well as low back pain.
So as you stock up on those pencils, calculators and textbooks
for another year of classes, remember to check that your child is
caring for the health of their back while carrying around all of
their gear.
Meghan Dukes, DC, MSPT
Chiropractic Physician
See more blog postings by Dr. Dukes at Elevate
Your Health Colorado
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Find alternative ways to achieve a healthy life with our
Mind-Body program. Class descriptions are below. More
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