Back Pain

While back pain is very common for adults, kids and teens are much more resilient and flexible and do not suffer the same types of back injuries to which adults are subject. Because children rarely suffer from back pain, any complaint by a child or teenager about acute back pain or chronic back pain is taken very seriously.

At a young age, if a child has back pain there is greater concern for the possibility of a serious condition – such as a spinal tumor, growth, an infection of the spine, or ankylosing spondylitis. If the back pain persists in a younger child despite a lack of re-injury, or if there are other symptoms suggestive of a more insidious process, the child’s condition will most likely be considered atypical.  In that case, further work-up and medical examination will be indicated. Backpacks are another large culprit associated in back pain in kids. Most kids carry up to half their body weight in books for up to six hours a day, five days a week. Proper posture and backpack carrying safety is a must in prevention of back pain in kids.