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SAFETY
Northwell.edu
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TO FIND A PHYSICIAN NEAR YOU, CALL 888-321-DOCS.
You Can Be Free of Pain
If you have questions about treating back and neck pain, alleviating painful
joints, preventing and treating athletic injuries, or treating foot and ankle
injuries, the answers are coming to your area. This autumn, join Northwell
Health orthopedists as they present free seminars in your community.
Call 516-321-7500 or visit bit.ly/FREEorthoSeminarNW to learn more.
Make the most of autumn
with everyday precautions.
Simple revamps of common fall
activities can keep your family
safely in the swing of things.
FOR YOUNGSTERS
Kids' heavy school backpacks can
be a hazard. Used improperly,
they can cause signifi cant back
pain. Help protect children from
hurting themselves by providing
backpacks with two straps,
which distribute book weight
more evenly, or opt for wheeled,
luggage-style carriers.
Most importantly, keep the bag
as light as possible. If textbooks
aren't necessary every day, keep
them at home or leave them at
school. Use small binders and
remove pages at the end of each
semester, rather than toting a
year's worth of notes around.
Finally, encourage proper posture
and stretching and strengthening
moves to preserve your kids'
healthy backs.
FOR ADULTS
Adults ready to tend to fallen leaves
and branches can help prevent
soreness or injury by limbering up
fi rst for about 10 minutes. Try a walk
around the block.
Tackle leaf-raking in small
increments, rather than letting piles get
too deep and heavy. If your yard needs a
lot of attention, take regular breaks and
drink plenty of water along the way.
When raking, form a wide base
with your feet and don't stretch or
bend further than your feet will allow,
the AARP advises, and switch arms
every few minutes to prevent overuse
injury. Maintain a safe posture by not
bending at the waist or twisting your
spine while you work. Afterward, relax
with some gentle stretches and a
warm shower or bath.
Did you overdo it? Call 888-321-DOCS to
fi nd a Northwell Health doctor who can
help with overuse injuries.
PAINLESSLY
Fall Forward — Fall Forward —
