Really, your kid is having back pain?

I just finished reading a few posts about kids and back pain.   Jeff Cubos writes that children should not have back pain.  He gives 3 reason why he thinks kids have back pain now.  Facebooking, skinny jeans and inactivity.  No surprises here.

Facebooking or sitting at computer, video game, or watching TV:

Prolonged sitting is one of the most deleterious activities most people engage in. After only 3 minutes of full flexion of the spine ligamentous creep or laxity occurs which persists even after 30 minutes of rest!

What this means is, after sitting for 3 minutes the ligaments that support the spine continue to stretch.   This is why bending over to pick something up after sitting leads to low back pain.   Also, watch how your kids sit with the big hunchback of their upper spine and their head forward.   (C posture)   If you look from the side they look like a C.  How do you think they spend most of their day?  Sitting in classes, standing hunched over, head down walking and texting, playing video games, and sitting at a computer.  They spend most of their day in this position. This is the posture we typically associate with being old.   Remind your kids that is what they look like now.   Take a picture of them and show them how they look.  What do you think it will look like in 5, 10, 20 years?

Skinny Jeans or baggy jeans that are too low:
Why does this affect back pain?

Typically, when a client compensates we see a dysfunction at the joint either below or above the joint that is painful (remember, a symptom is nothing more than a presentation of a problem. It tells us something is wrong but it does not tell us what is wrong)….When one presents with low-back pain…an evaluation of the hip (for both strength deficits and mobility restrictions) should also be performed.”

If the hips cannot move, something has to compensate for that lack of movement, usually that is the spine.  This is why with so many of our low back patients we look at the hip and work on moving and strengthening the hips as much as we work on the spine itself.

Inactivity:
This really is self explanatory, but Jeff chalks it up like this:

For one reason or another, kids just don’t move these days. Maybe its because of “facebooking” or maybe its because their jeans are so tight, but for whatever reason, kids are inactive. Can’t blame school. School has been around for a long time. But after school? If you’re child is complaining to you of low back pain, simply take a picture of them while they tell you it hurts. More often than not their speaking to you in this position:

Make it a point to get your kids active.   Even better, go out and get active with them.

Back to School

Well, it is that time of year again.   The school year is starting.   It seems like wonderful time for parents as they get the house back again.   The kids are not quite so happy, as they have to return to school.  As you return your children to school they will be looking to get a nice new back pack.   Make sure not to overload them.  Improper backpack use can cause injury, especially to children with young, growing muscles and joints. A study found that 55 percent of the children surveyed carried backpack loads heavier than 15 percent of their body weight,the maximum safe weight for children recommended by most experts.  Mke sure they use both of the shoulder straps

Recommendations from the American Physical Therapy Association include:

Wear both straps. Using only one strap, even with backpacks that have one strap that runs across the body, causes one shoulder to bear the weight of the bag. By wearing both shoulder straps, the weight of the pack is better distributed, and a symmetrical posture is promoted. A backpack that has padded, contoured shoulder straps will also help reduce pressure on the chest and shoulders.

Make sure the backpack fits. It is important to pay close attention to the way a backpack is positioned on the back, and the size of the backpack should match the size of the child. Shoulder straps should fit comfortably on the shoulder and under the arms, so that the arms can move freely. The bottom of the pack should rest in the contour of the lower back. The pack should "sit" evenly in the middle of the back, not "sag down" toward the buttocks.

I hope everyone has an enjoyable and safe return to school this year.