At one time, when a child experienced back pain, it was considered to possibly be serious until proved otherwise. However, it is now accepted that benign back pain in children and adolescents is more common than ever and rarely represents something more serious going on. Now seeking care from your healthcare provider when your child presents with back pain is much less invasive, expensive and more accurate than ever before. Even though this is the case, it is still quite a challenge to care for back pain in children.
Despite the work that goes into researching back pain in children, very few leave their chiropractor office with a diagnosis. One study reported that as many 78% of children with back pain were not given a diagnosis upon a thorough examination.
Back pain is quite common in adolescents and children, impacting as many as 50 percent by age 20. The pain is often described as sharp and shooting or dull and aching and may be felt anywhere in the back. In children younger than 10, back pain may indicate a more serious problem. But most episodes of back pain resolve on their own and are often not serious.
Interesting Information about Back Pain
- Non-specific back pain is increasing in commonality in children.
- Back pain becomes worse as one ages.
- Girls have back pain more often than boys.
- Back pain is much more common in adults than children.
- Less than 30 percent of children seek care from chiropractor for back pain.
Reasons for Back Pain in Children and Adolescents
Older children
- Spondylolysis
- Disc problems such as herniation or Scheuermann’s disease
- Overuse and back strain or musculoligamentous injury
- Spondylolisthesis
- Vertebral fractures
Younger and Older Children
- Infection (usually under age 10)
- Discitis
- Pyelonephritis
- Retroperitoneal infection
- Osteomyelitis
- Tumors of the spinal cord such as ependymoma
- Congenital disorders of the spine such as scoliosis
- Bone tumors — most commonly Ewing’s sarcoma osteoblastoma, primary lymphoma, osteoid osteoma, and aneurysmal bone cyst
- Systemic disease such as sickle cell disease
Finding a Diagnosis
A thorough examination by a professional can be the key to finding the underlying reason for back pain in a child. The age of the child and the history of pain are two key things that indicate there may be a more serious underlying condition.
A detailed patient history is vital. It is important to mention such things as how long has the pain has been occurring, if it disturbs your child’s sleep, if he or she perform usual activities, where the pain is located, and if it radiates anywhere else. It is also important to include any other symptoms:
- Fever
- Weight loss
- Neurological symptoms — weakness, numbness, problems walking, problems with bladder or bowels
Other things to mention:
- Previous episodes of back pain, arthritis, or injury
- Family history of arthritis or scoliosis
- Psychological history — depression or aggravating back pain that causes depression
- Social history — sports activities, carrying books or backpacks in school
Backpacks: Keeping the Weight Off
It is pretty common to see kids of all ages carrying backpacks to school. Did you know these are often the source of back pain if they are carried wrong? Here are some tips to help your child avoid back pain from backpacks:
- Keep the weight evenly distributed by carrying the backpack on both shoulders
- Make sure the weight load is as low as possible
- Educate yourself on the fact that backpack weight does impact the back
- Use a locker when they get to school so that they aren’t carrying everything all day long
Another key to remember is to practice good posture at all times. This is vital to keeping back pain at bay.
Back Pain Relief Manila Philippines
Keeping Your Child’s Spine Healthy to Ward Off Back Pain
Something interesting was noted in a case study involving an eight-year-old girl complaining of middle and lower back pain. Her pain rated 5 out of 10 on the pain scale and had lasted for two years. She had tried stretching and massage, but the pain continued. Upon examination, it was discovered that she had a misalignment in her upper cervical spine. The Blair upper cervical chiropractic technique was used to find and correct these issues. She continued with care for 5 months and was happy to report that her pain had gone away completely.
The upper cervical technique focuses on realigning the top bones of the neck that have become misplaced. How does this happen in children? Any type of blow to the head or neck can misalign these bones. The C1 and C2 vertebrae are very flexible as they have the important job of supporting the heavy head and allowing it to move in many directions. But this puts them at risk for displacing. A sports accident, a trip and fall, a car accident, and even childbirth trauma or the way the head is positioned in the birth canal can all be reasons for these bones to move out of place. How does this cause back pain though?
The body compensates for neck misalignments in a few ways. For one thing, when the head is tilted just a few degrees, righting reflex takes over. This keeps the eyes level with the horizon line, and often to do this, the spine must shift and twist. The nerves in the back can become pinched or compressed and the muscles become irritated, leading to back pain. By correcting the problem in the neck, the spine can once again get into the proper position.
The method we use to correct the neck misalignments is gentle yet effective. It does not involve cracking the neck or back and is very gentle for any age group. Even infants have benefited from this type of chiropractic care.
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