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Each month Dr. Schumacher sends out an informative "Back Fact" e-letter.
The e-letter provides helpful hints to prevent daily injuries as well as how to stay healthy. They are short, easy
to read and often include a coupon.
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Back
Fact #39 (February 2010):
Do
you or someone you know suffer from neck pain, shoulder pain, headaches, or back pain? Do you work on a desktop or laptop
computer? If so, your “ergonomic” computer posture maybe causing your pain! As most of my patients know, I try and educate them on what is causing their problem
internally, as well as what could be causing their problem externally. For some people seeing is believing, and thus actually
seeing how you work on your computer and the physical set up of your work station can give me allot of information.
I can then teach you how to limit those aggravating factors. Therefore
I am offering FREE of charge (for a limited time) on-site ergonomic evaluations. With the approval of your
company/boss I will come to your office and spend approx. 30 minutes evaluating and suggesting ways to limit any computer
stress. To set up an appt., reply to this email with Ergo in the subject line.
Back Fact #38 (January 2010):
Can driving your car be bad for your back?YES! If you think about it, your body has to twist
and bend in various directions just to get in the car. Then your low back and hips are forced into a confined
space, but your legs and feet need to move frequently. In addition, the muscles, ligaments and spinal joints
of your neck, upper back and shoulders are forced to contract and relax on a regular basis. This doesn’t
even include changing the channel on the radio. So, how do you properly support your back while driving? First, make sure you take your
time getting in and out of your car. Second make sure your seat is in an upright position.
Finally, keep your hands below the level of your shoulders (even if you have to lower the steering wheel.)
Back
Fact #37 (November 2009): Did
you know that on October 3, 1863 President Lincoln signed the Thanksgiving Proclamation. Thanks to God we are able to enjoy a large, delicious meal with our family and
friends on Thanksgiving Day. When we see that meal presented; our mouths water, our eyes get big and our
stomach’s rumble with anticipation. After we finish the meal; our mouths are tired, our eye lids
get heavy and our stomach’s go into overdrive. We then begin to feel tired and lethargic.
This is partly because our body’s use most of our energy to digest that big, delicious meal. To
speed up the digestive process and eliminated the tired feeling, get up and move. Put on your boots, coats
and hats (wait a minute, we live in California) put on your flip-flops, shorts and sunglasses and take a walk.
This will speed up digestion. Now you’re ready for pie!
Back Fact #36 (October 2009):
WATCH MY BACK!!!! As
Congress debates “Healthcare reform” the chiropractic profession is taking a proactive approach
and asking our patients, family and friends to tell Congress to make chiropractic care a guaranteed benefit. Please
fill out and and send to your 2 Senators and Representative. To even make this easier, you complete the form
and e-mail it (calabasaschiro@hotmail.com,) fax it (818- 880-4592,) or drop it office at my office and I will send it in for
you. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for your support
of the chiropractic profession. God Bless, Dr. S.
Click here for WATCH MY BACK FORM
Back Fact #35 (September
2009): Water!
Water! Water! Water!
Our bodies need 64oz. a day to hydrate all the systems in the body. If our body is not fully hydrated it lacks
the ability to function properly. Therefore if you are feeling run down and tired, try drinking one large glass
of water 4 times a day. Before you know it you'll be running laps around your kids. (Well maybe
not, but you won't be as tired and run down.)
Back Fact #34 (August 2009):
Keep your elbows close to your sides while working on the computer!When your elbows are close to your sides it forces your arms and shoulders to stay down.
This ultimately relaxes the shoulders and reduces upper back and neck pain.
Back Fact #33: Avoid crossing your legs over your knees or crossing your ankles! These two positions force your hip joints to become externally rotated, thus putting extra pressure
on your low back and Sacro-iliac joints. Crossing your legs or ankles on a regular basis can lead to chronic un-explained
low back pain.
Back Fact #32 (May 2009): The
headline reads “Chiropractic delisted in Alberta” Canada! Chiropractic care has now been removed
from the government subsidized healthcare in Canada just to save money. Wow!!! No matter what your views are about “national healthcare” we must
always be concerned about accessibility and quality of care. Most, if not all, government sponsored
healthcare around the world has not been successful in providing efficient accessibility and quality of care.
Please take the time to read and listen to both sides of this issue. Chiropractic has always been
pushed aside by the medical profession as not truly necessary. For those of us who have experienced chiropractic
we know that’s not true. Our current system may not be great but we do have the best accessibility
and quality of healthcare in the world. I am now stepping off my soap box. God Bless, Dr.
S.
Back Fact #31
(April 2009): Are you tired, run down, pooped half way through
your day? If so you’re probably suffering from a lack of sustainable nutrition.
What I mean by this is that you are probably not taking in enough nutrients to sustain your body throughout the day.
Even those of you who eat properly may need an extra boost. As most of you know I don’t sell a lot of nutritional products
out of my office but I came across a fantastic product called Nanogreens which contains the bio-nutrients of 10 servings
of fruits and vegetables. Wow!!! Because of all those nutrients your body can maintain
its energy for the entire day. I personally take Nanogreens every day. Just imagine for only $45 a container you can get
10 servings of fruits of vegetables every day for an entire month. If you would like
to purchase or sample this great product, stop by my office. Or for more information go to my website and
click the “Nano - Products” button.
Back Fact #30 (February 2009):
As many of you know I use massage
therapy as an integral part of my practice. I have found that by using massage many of my patient’s
adjustments have been holding 2-3 times longer. This is great news because when the spine stays in alignment longer, the prevalence
of pain, muscle spasms, organ dysfunction, headaches, etc. decrease dramatically. When stress occurs the
spine goes out of alignment and the muscles begin to contract thus causing pain, muscle spasms, and decreased organ function.
When people get “stressed” they usually think of massage to relieve their symptoms. I
agree, but with the added benefit of a chiropractic adjustment the pain goes away and stays away longer. If you know someone who is “stressed”
send them over for a massage and as an added benefit I will check their spine for any mis-alignments. We
now have massage appointments available on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The appointments
book fast so call ahead. As an added benefit, refer a friend or family member and get an extra $5 off coupon.
Back
Fact #29 (January 2009):
Happy
New Year!!!! Whenever
a new year rolls around many people see it as a time of renewal, to start over, or begin something new. Usually
that renewal (or resolution) has something to do with health. But as the year wears on that resolution
tends to fade. Mainly because it was something that is not easily attainable (ie. loosing 25 lbs..) So here is Dr. Schumacher’s
advise; START SMALL! When it comes to your health, instead of trying to completely overhaul your diet or lifestyle, do only
1 thing. For example, plan to walk 15-20 minutes 2 times per week, or eliminate 1-2 fast food stops a week or a month, add
another (or for some of you just add) a fruit or vegetable to your diet each day. I know for some of you
this is far less than your normal routine, so my advice to you is, stick with it. And maybe encourage a
family member or friend to join you.
Please
take a moment to watch this short video featuring four-time Olympian Terry Schroeder, DC, talking about his experience both
as a player and coach for the U.S. Olympic Menʼs Water Polo team. In the video, Dr. Schroeder also shares why he and
so many world-class athletes, as well as everyday people, rely on chiropractic care to keep them well. If you enjoy the video
and find it informative, please forward this e-mail on to others.
http://www.calchiro.org/about_chiropractic.html
Back
Fact #28 (October 2008):
“Why
does my back hurt, Doc?” is a question I hear almost every day. As a physician I try to figure out
what physiologically is causing someone’s pain. But the real question should be “Doc, can you
help me figure out what I am doing to cause my back pain?” Throughout my 16 years of practice I have
determined that some people just have “bad backs.” But even those people do things to aggravate
their backs. Take a moment and think about your back. How do you sit, stand, sleep,
walk, drive, exercise, watch TV, read, work on your computer, talk on your phone/cell phone? All of these
activities can cause pain if done incorrectly. If you think you are doing some of these activities wrong
and thus causing your pain, let me know? I can show you how to do them correctly.
Did
you know our office is now part of Take Shape For Life? TSFL is a nutrition and weight loss program.
For more information check our optimizeyourlife.tsfl.com.
Back
Fact #26 (July 2008): {Better late
than never}
A lot of people wonder why the chiropractor always recommends you come back and get adjusted on a regular basis.
There is actually a long list as to why you should keep your spine in alignment, but I thought I would give you three
that I feel are the most important.
1. Your spinal column houses your spinal cord
which controls everything from your head down to your toes.
2. A large
percentage of your body’s muscles are attached directly to the spine and thus the majority of your physical movement
cannot be done without your spine.
3. Every major organ, except the brain and the heart, are controlled
via the nerves from the spinal cord.
So, take a moment and think about how your body would feel if
your spine wasn’t functioning at its best. Taking a small amount of time out of your busy schedule
on a regular basis to maintain your spine just might keep you healthy (and out of pain.)
Remember: “An aligned spine keeps the mind alive!”
Back
Fact #25 (June 2008):
While walking
or standing our FEET are the most important asset we have. So why do so many people not take care of their
feet by wearing non-supportive shoes? Let’s look at one type of footwear that can be very hazardous
to your back’s health; The Flip-flop. Now don’t go ballistic on me, I do own and wear
a pair of Flip-flops. They’re o.k. for moving around the house or short distances, but beyond that
they are a hazard.
When the body lifts the foot off the ground it then begins to predict where and when it will
place the foot back on the ground. When the foot is completely encased with support the body can predict
with great certainty how the foot will land. But with Flip-flips or other non-supportive shoes the body
has to re-position its foot multiple times when the foot hits the ground in order to land properly on the Flip-flop. This
is because the Flip-flop or other non-supportive shoes float in the air when the body picks up the foot. Therefore
the body will use the ankles, knees, hips and low back to compensate for the multiple corrections it will have to make when
landing on a Flip-flop. Eventually this can lead to ankle, knee, hip and low back problems.
Now, how much work do you think your feet, ankles, knees, hips and low back would have to do to walk around Disneyland for a day in a pair of Flip-flop?
Back
Fact #24 (May 2008):
Driving!!! I
was thinking the other day after watching people drive down the freeway that our driving postures Suck! Most
people drive with the seat reclined back so far they can barely reach the steering wheel. As you know from
my past “Back Facts” posture is very important in preventing back problems. Most of us will
realize that our posture at work/school is poor or maybe the 15 year old sofa is not good for our backs but very rarely do
we think of our car seat (or driving posture) being bad for our backs.
Thus, Dr. Schumacher’s
infinite wisdom of the day, SIT UP!! If you have your car seat in a more upright position
you won’t have to reach with your arms and therefore flex your back which puts undo strain on the muscle, ligaments,
and nerves of the spine.
Did you know that “on October 1, 2007,
23 students began their first semester at the first chiropractic school in Spain.”
Cool!!! (Dynamic Chiropractic April 22, 2008.)
Back
Fact #23 (March 2008):
Wow, time
sure does fly!! I have been so busy this month that I just realized I forgot to send everyone my “Back
Fact.” I know everyone checks their e-mail everyday waiting for my “Back Fact” (ha ha!)
This month’s topic is SLEEP!
The majority of the population may not realize how valuable sleep really is to our bodies. It is so important that
the body can force itself to sleep whether we want it to or not. Your body needs 8 hours of sleep
to accomplish its goals. During that time period the body can heal minor problems such as soft tissue injuries,
infections, cuts etc . . . Nutrients throughout the body are redistributed to help regulate proper body
functions. The body will also regulate breathing and heart rate to increase oxygenation of the blood.
These are just a few of the many things our bodies do while we are asleep. I know a lot of you have
busy lives but try and find the time to let you body heal/regulate itself with 8 hours of sleep. I guarantee it will
make a big difference in how you feel.
Back
Fact #22 (February 2008):
A couple weeks
back I attended a seminar presentation with a college of mine called “Understanding Subluxation Neuroanatomy to improve
patient care” by Dr. Dan Murphy. Now you’re probably thinking, too many big words I don’t
understand! That’s o.k., I don’t expect you too. The reason I bring this up is that I found
the information he provided fascinating, because it is proving that a chiropractic adjustment has a greater effect on the
human body than most people think.
Dr. Murphy is a very well known and respected doctor in both the chiropractic and
medical profession. He spends countless hours reviewing medical research associated with the spine, as
well as why and how chiropractic impacts the human body. During his hour and half presentation he showed
research article after research article from medical journals that showed how powerful a chiropractic adjustment can be on
the body. One article that stood out in my mind was a study done to see which treatment both reduced pain
and increased joint synovial fluid (basically, joint lubrication.) It compared acupuncture, Viox and Celobrex
(two most commonly prescribed drugs for arthritis) to chiropractic adjustments. The chiropractic adjustment
was 10 times more effective than acupuncture and 70 times (yes, I said 70 times) more effective than Viox and Celobrex.
This study was published in one of the world’s most respected medical journals, SPINE. Wow!!!!
Back
Fact #21 (January 2008):
Well it’s
another new year and time to think about our lives and how we might want to change over the next year. Of
course, everyone always thinks about their body’s and becoming healthier. This is great and I wish
most of us would stick to our new plans, but we don’t. I would like to give you my thoughts on the
matter. (Of course you saw that coming.)
I believe the reason most changes don’t take place is we
think we need to make a major shift in our lives in order to change something. For example, how
much we weight or how we look. Start with baby steps! If you want to
loose weight, start by cutting out one fatty food in your diet (ie. fast food or soda.) If
you want to begin an exercise program start by walking 3 times per week for 10-20 minutes during lunch. The
same goes for pain. Start by evaluating your daily activities to see if any of them may be contributing
to your symptoms. If you think something does, modify or eliminate it. {If you need
help with this let me know?}
Remember – Baby Steps! {It took God 7 days to create the world. It’s going to take
you a little longer to make a change in your life.)
Back
Fact #20 (December 2007):
Merry Christmas!!!
I hope and pray everyone has a wonderful and save Christmas and New Year.
As I was thinking about what
to write I realized that I have sent out 19 “Back Facts” so far. Wow how time flies.
So I decided to go back in my archives and reprint one of my favorite pieces of advice. My very
first “Back Fact.” I would everyone to print this e-mail and tape it to their computer monitor
so they will have a reminder that in order to keep our bodies healthy and pain free we need to stay in motion.
Our body's are designed to be in motion. Therefore sitting at a computer for hours at a time
is physically demanding on both the body and the spine. So, Take
a Break! Every 30-45 minutes get out of your chair, walk down the hall or around your desk, and
sit back down. Try it! It will make a difference, both physically and mentally.
Did you know that
some research has come out to show that food colorings and sodium benzoate maybe
contributing factors to ADHD. So watch what you are feeding your kid, it maybe the cause of their hyperactivity.
Back Fact #19 (November 2007):
Over the past 5-10 years we have become addicted
to technology; computers, video games, iPods, and cell phones. What!! Did you say Cell Phones!
I think cell phones are one of the most amazing pieces of technology ever created. I don’t
think you can find anyone over the age of 12 in the west valley that doesn’t have a cell phone.
Even though I think it is a great device, it can
be very hazardous to your health. I’m not sure what the long term affects will be from “cellular radiation”
but I do know what the affects are on your spine. Just think, in order for you to talk on your cell phone
your body has to rotate and laterally tilt its head and neck, flex the arm at both the shoulder and elbow, hyper-extend the
wrist, use approximately 30 different muscles, and direct most of the brains attention to one ear canal. Now
perform that motion by maybe 5 calls or 10 calls or even worse 1 - 10 minute call a day. All those motions
done repetitively everyday can and will cause injury to your head, neck, shoulder, arm and wrist. I know
we need them so my caution is; limit the number of calls you take and the amount of time you spend on each call.
Or simply, use a headset!
Back
Fact #18 (October 2007):
I just realized as I was reviewing past “Back
Facts” that they are getting a little wordy. I guess I have started to write as much as I talk (yes,
you can laugh at that.) So I am going to try and make them short and to the point.
Injuries!!!
The number one reason most injuries don’t heal is; WE WON’T LET THEM! When you injure
your back, neck, arm, leg, head, etc . . . take the TIME to let it heal. I’m not saying don’t
move. As you know I’m a big fan of movement. I’m saying take a break from the activity that
either caused the injury or will aggravate it. Finally, if the pain persists 2-3 days please have it evaluated
or treated. This will enable your body to heal faster.
Back
Fact #17 (September 2007):
WATER!!!!! Most
of us don’t drink enough water to help our bodies function as well as they should. We drink plenty
of Starbucks, Coke, Diet Coke, Mountain Dew, Juices and maybe a beer or two. And even though most drinks
are made with water, our bodies need pure, “straight up,” no additives or preservatives WATER to cleanse our system,
help our body perform properly and heal from injuries. Water is used in every aspect and every part of
our body.
So for those of you who are not fans of drinking
water, I want to you to start small and work your way up. Start with one 8 oz glass of water in the morning
before you eat anything. Then start adding an 8 oz glass with lunch and then dinner. Finally
drink a glass before bedtime. This will allow your body to have ample water in its system to heal it from
the injuries it occurred during the day.
One more piece
of advice for us parents of younger children. Send a bottle of water to school instead of a juice box or
soda. If you get them hooked when they are young, they will be set for (a long) life.
Back Fact #16 (July 2007):
I’m sorry
this month’s “Back Fact” is so late. I know you have been sitting on the edge of your
chair, checking your e-mails everyday waiting for my words of wisdom. (Ha Ha - It’s o.k. to laugh.)
As you know I am a big proponent of staying active and exercise. I have been
reading a great book by Dr. Ben Lerner called “Body by God.” Dr. Lerner is a very successful
chiropractor, nutritionist, and U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team Physician. In his book he talks about the “Amazing
Benefits of Exercise by God.” It’s one of the best lists I have seen and thus I want you to
know that exercise (movement) does more than just control body weight.
Exercise:
-
Improves heart function
-
Lowers blood pressure
- Reduces body fat
- Elevates
bone mass
-
Decreases total & LDL cholesterol (“bad cholesterol”)
-
Raises HDL cholesterol (“good cholesterol”)
-
Raises energy levels
- Enhances & balances hormone production
- Aids in the sleeping process
- Increases stress tolerance
- Eliminates
toxins
-
Reduces depression
- Controls or prevents diabetes (blood sugar)
- Decreases the risk of injury to the muscles, joints and spine.
So now that you finished
reading my e-mail, Go for a walk!
Back Fact #15 (June 2007):
It is summer time
once again and that usually means more time for outside activities. As you know I am a big proponent of
keeping your body active with any type of movement. But I am also big on safety and preventing injuries.
Many people remember to stretch prior to playing sports or working-out but most forget to stretch when it comes to
doing (what seem to be) simple activities such as; a casual bike ride with the kids, skateboarding, rollerblading, pulling
a “few” weeds in the front yard, or painting a “small” patch on the trim of your house.
Do any of those sound familiar? They all seem simple and not very challenging on the body. Most
Chiropractors will see more injuries caused by simple activities than major sports injuries. Why?
I’m glad you ask, because we do not warm-up or stretch prior to doing these “simple” activities.
So, what I am trying to get across to you is, STRETCH before you rake the back yard,
play a game of basketball with the kids, take a long hike with a friend, or wash your car. Trust me a simple
5 minute stretching routine will make all the difference in the world. If you would like a copy of a simple
stretching routine, send me an e-mail and I will forward a copy to you.
Did you know that according to the Journal
of Manipulative & Physiological Therapeutics 2004 research paper concludes that a manage-care network with chiropractic
gatekeepers saves substantial costs and results in decreased utilization as compare to PCP’s using conventional medicine
alone. Dynamic Chiropractic June 4, 2007.
Back Fact #14 (May 2007):
As a Doctor of
Chiropractic we use basically our whole body to perform an adjustment, but our hands/wrists are our most valuable tools.
The wrist is one of the most complicated joints in the entire body. If you think about it, the wrist
is used in almost every action we do throughout the day (driving, eating, computer, phones.)
Years ago carpal tunnel
syndrome was a major condition that caused a lot of wrist pain which kept people from performing their normal daily activities.
The society as a whole then developed better keyboard, mouse and telephone ergonomics to decrease the frequency of
injury. But we still spend more time and money taking care of our “computer” necks and backs
than we do our wrists.
So how do we help take care of our wrist? I’m
glad you asked. A simple and very cost effective way is to use the “Rubber Band Method.” Yes,
I said a rubber band. Wrap a rubber band around the outside of your fingers just below your first knuckles.
Your hand should now look like you’re holding a baseball. Now open your hand slightly, putting
resistance against the rubber band, then release but keep some tension on the rubber band. Continue doing
this for about 30 seconds. By doing this exercise several times a day, your wrist will stay strong and
hopefully out of pain.
Did you know that in March of this year Rep. Filner (D-Calif.) introduced
the bill H.R. 1470, The Chiropractic Care Availability to All Veterans Act. This bill would direct the
Federal Government to expand chiropractic benefits within the Veterans Administration. Dynamic Chiropractic April 23, 2007 {Isn’t that great!
With all the physical activity they do what a blessing this would be!}
Back Fact #13 (April 2007):
When
my wife and I go on a “kid-free” vacation we always seem to end up at a hotel that has a SPA attached.
I am not into pedicures, manicures, or facials but my wife loves them. But I realized that one of
her favorite treatments is a nice relaxing massage. (Of course a nice relaxing
massage works for me as well.) As you know my practice not only focuses on chiropractic but also
relaxation. Too many people now days are too stressed and don’t take the time to just
relax! So, in addition to the wonderful “thumper” massager and heated dry-hydro
massage table, I have added massage therapy to the treatments offered at my office. This type
of massage therapy is designed to both relieve muscle pain and relax your body.
If you
would like to know more or schedule an appointment, please call or e-mail me. We have appointments available
at 3:00 pm, 4:00 pm, and 5:30 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays,
and Fridays. They book up fast so don’t make your “stressed out” body wait.
Did you know that according to Dr. Manny Alvarez of FoxNews.com 4/3/07 “…almost
half of all sports-related injuries treated in emergency rooms involve children between the ages of 5 and 14. While an active
child is increasingly important in an age of obesity, an over-zealous sports schedule may be putting your child at risk.”
Back
Fact #12 (February 2007):
Have you ever
really thought about what you eat? Well, I have! As I sat down to eat my lunch last
week I began to wonder what my body was going to feel like after eating a “Brent’s Deli” pastrami sandwich.
At first I didn’t care, because I love a good pastrami sandwich, but then I started thinking of the FAT content.
Then I wondered how many nutrients are in the sandwich? I am not an expert in nutrition and as many
of you know my parents owned and ice cream parlor when I was growing up. But most of us should have been
taught in school or by our parents what types of food were good for us and which ones were not.
Here is one
simple way to determine if what you have eaten is useful for your body.
How do you feel
after you have eaten it?”
Good food for our bodies should not make us feel stuffed, tired, wired or even hungry.
They should make us feel satisfied. So the next time you eat, think about how your body will feel,
and then decided if that food it the right food for your body.
Did you know that according
to the New York Times web site “Americans are besieged with more diagnosis than ever before.” The
article “discusses two areas that are contributing to the diagnosis epidemic. The ‘medicalization
of everyday life and the medicalization of childhood.’” ChiroWeb 2/12/07
Back Fact #11 (January 2007):
Well
I have finally moved into the 21st century and created a web site for my office. I hope everyone
will enjoy previewing my new site. Please take a moment out of your busy day log onto www.calabasaschiro.com. If you ever need our phone number or would like to refer a family member or friend you can just visit
www.calabasaschiro.com.
My site can give a new patient an inside look at my practice and hopefully answer some questions.
It will also keep you (my patient) updated with any new or changes to my practice via a Blog on my Home Page.
In addition, I have a “Specials & Coupon” page that will be providing occasional discounts and specials
for my office. So don’t forget to check the site for updates.
And remember, keep you body
in motion but take the time to relax.
Back
Fact #10 (December 2006):
Merry Christmas! Well it’s that time of year again and
many of us are trying to “show-up” our next door neighbors and have a better decorated yard. Others
have found the need to see how many packages they can carry, with one hand, from one end of the Mall to their car.
This time of year is filled with many unnecessary and avoidable injuries. I would like to point
out two that are most commonly seen in my office. First, the “strained neck and arm” from reaching
too far to place lights on the trim of the house while standing on a ladder that is not firmly planted on the ground.
The second is from lifting and carrying too many or too heavy of packages. This causes injury to
both the arms/shoulders and back. I could go into the biomechanics of how to avoid these injuries but I think most people
know that if they overextend a certain part of their body it will become injured.
So, my “Back Fact”
is THINK FIRST! If you know you can’t reach it, don’t try. If you
already have 5 shopping bags from Nordstrom, don’t enter Crate and Barrel until you have dropped those bags off at your
car. And remember your grandkids are heavier than you think.
