Attention Parents:
A new study published in the medical journal Spine, revealed that pediatric back pain is much more prevalent than was assumed a decade ago.
806 subjects were studied from twenty-five schools looking at cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions. There was a 39% occurrence of back pain with no difference in gender.
Thoracic (mid back) pain was the most common in younger children, ages 8-10. Thoracic and low back pain were equally common in the teenage group, ages 14-16. Neck pain was considered rare in both age groups. Among back pain sufferers 38% had to see a doctor, refrain from physical activities, or stay home from school, which was evidence of the severity of the pain.
The author’s conclusions were:
- Cases of back pain appear to increase with age and low back pain appears to be more likely in adolescence.
- Neck pain, mid back pain and low back pain should be considered as separate conditions, and those children presenting with neck pain should receive and extensive clinical evaluation (should be seen by a doctor).
Comment:
In clinical practice we see many children who suffer from low back, mid back and neck pain. If your child mentions these to you, be sure to bring them in for an evaluation. More importantly, with age, conditions tend to build on themselves and worsen as we grow older. Just like with any other physician, you should bring your children in for a chiropractic examination in order to find problems that have not already surfaced and/or keep your children as healthy as possible as they go through their most intense growing years. You have already seen the benefits of chiropractic care, and it is only logical that we impart these same healthy principles on our children. If your have any further questions, please feel free to talk to Doctors John or Marna.