Mary Franz - Feb 22nd, 2011
We often think of back pain affecting only adults, but in a recent study, it was found that back pain may also be a serious problem amongst adolescents.
The study was conducted in New Zealand. A cross-sectional survey was used amongst 245 school-aged children, ages 11-14. The researchers found that 58% of the children had experienced spinal pain within the last month. Among those who had, 31% reported pain in one area of the spine while 28% had pain in more than one area of the spine. Low back pain accounted for 35% and neck pain was reported in 36%, but low back pain was reported as being more severe and longer lasting than pain in the neck or upper back.
The results indicate that parents and health professionals should be paying more attention to spinal health in children. A chiropractor can evaluate children for potential spinal problems and offer a treatment plan to correct spinal misalignment.
A chiropractor can also offer advice on posture, proper lifting, and a healthy diet to improve spinal health and overall bone health. Chiropractors may recommend methods for proper training for the child athlete to prevent sports-related injuries and improve performance.
Trevelyan FC, Legg SJ; The prevalence and characteristics of back pain among school children in New Zealand; Ergonomics 2010 Dec; 53(12): 1455-60
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