Adolescent Back Pain and Headaches

 

Many parents have a tendency to dismiss back pain as “growing pains” or headaches as something their children may “grow out of.”  Unfortunately, these two issues have become common, but they are definitely not normal. As adults, we have become accustomed to taking an aspirin or Ibuprofen to relieve aches and pains but are resistant, with good reason, to give it to our children.

Today’s children have many stressors on their body.  One of these stressors is the excess load that a backpack places on a child’s spine. The repetitive stress of walking in this posture causes the joints of the spine to misalign, which affects the nerves and can causes pain.

Another stressor on our children’s spines is poor posture.  While at school, children sit for many hours of the day, often in a slouched position.  Children are also sitting while using the computer, playing video games, and watching television.  Sitting to their spine is like sugar to their teeth: it literally rots it.  Our bodies are designed to move, not to sit for long periods of time. (How often do you see deer, squirrels, and other animals sitting in the wild?) This sitting and poor posture can cause your child to develop a postural deformity know as forward head posture (FHP).  This posture puts a tremendous amount of pressure at the base of the neck, where the neck meets the shoulder.  FHP may be source of many headaches and pain that make it difficult for your child to pay attention at school or complete tasks at home. The test to determine if your child has FHP is easy - look at your child from the side.  The ear and the shoulder should line up vertically. If the ear is in front of the shoulder then you child has forward head posture. 

If you suspect forward head posture in your child, consider a chiropractic evaluation for him or her. It is far better to catch the problem early and steer clear of a lifetime pattern of neck pain, headaches, and other preventable health concerns than suffer the consequences later on in life.  Proper posture can also be taught to ensure habits that will encourage a healthy spine and a pain-free life.

“An ounce of prevention is worth move than a pound of cure”-Dr. B.J. Palmer