OGDEN -- More and more children are injuring themselves lugging around school backpacks, which means there's a growing demand for pediatric-certified chiropractors.
Dr. Greg Doxey, a chiropractor at Doxey Chiropractic in Ogden, said more than 20,000 children a year in the United States suffer backpack-related injuries that include fractures and sprains and strains to the back and shoulder.
"How a student carries their backpack is a definite problem to their spine," Doxey said. "The backpack alone may not cause major problems, but overloading and improper carrying can lead to numerous injuries."
For instance, Doxey said, a 60-pound child should carry no more than nine pounds in his backpack. An 80-pound child shouldn't carry more than 12 pounds and a 100-pound child no more than 15 pounds.
"If a backpack exceeds 15 percent of the child's body weight, it's too heavy," Doxey said. "The proper way to pack and hold a backpack is to load the heavy items first so they rest against the back and they should carry the pack with both shoulders."
Doxey has been practicing chiropractic medicine since 1982. Although he has treated children throughout his career, he wanted to be more proficient and have a wider range of knowledge with children's ailments. Last November, he received his certification in pediatrics.
He said he sees an array of symptoms in children who visit his office, from sports injuries, injuries from trips and falls, neck and back pain, headaches, muscular tightness and arm and leg pain. He also treats babies with colic, projectile vomiting, gastritis and other ailments.
"About one-third of childhood injuries are sports-related," Doxey said. The best way to prevent these types of injuries, he said, is to make sure you warm up, land with bent legs, eat a well-balanced meal before you play, wear protective gear, heed pain signals the body sends and practice for a reasonable amount of time.
Doxey knew he wanted to become a chiropractor at a young age. His father worked as a chiropractor for more than 50 years before retiring when he was 83.
After graduating from Ogden High School, Doxey attended Weber State University and graduated from Los Angeles Chiropractic College. He has two daughters, Amy, who is studying to be a chiropractor, and Kelci, who is studying to become an orthopedic surgeon.
He also has two dogs, a great Dane named Aussie and a sheltie named Mickey, after Mickey Mantle.
Doxey is also certified to treat pregnant women.
Shelby Cardall, of Ogden, said she tried everything to become pregnant. After seeing Doxey, she was pregnant within three weeks.
"After a year of trying to get pregnant, I went to a clinic in Ogden and they started me on fertility drugs," said the 24 year-old. "After three rounds with no success, my husband told me to go and see Dr. Doxey. He adjusted my back and spine and pelvic area and within three weeks I was pregnant."
Cardall, who is seven months pregnant, said she sees Doxey once a month and has had a very healthy pregnancy.
When he's not making adjustments in the office, Doxey likes to golf, attend sporting events and collect sports memorabilia.
The chiropractic profession was established in 1895. The name comes from the Greek words cheir and praktikis, meaning done by hand. Doxey said chiropractic medicine is an excellent way to treat a person using alternative methods.
"As a chiropractor, I identify the misalignments, vertebral subluxations and any structural changes in the spine by removing any interference by means of manipulation," he said.
"Therefore, I am preventing any chronic problems and restoring functionality of the skeletal, muscular and central nervous system. This holistic approach is the main benefit."
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