While some lower back pain needs to be treated by a specialist, chiropractors can help children and adolescents prevent and manage lower back pain. Most pain with no specific cause responds to rest, rehabilitation and identification of predisposing risk factors.

Although the causes of lower back pain in school-aged children are most often benign, according to the literature, a thorough evaluation performed by a chiropractor can help rule out a more serious condition. For example, obtaining a full clinical history, asking certain questions associated with an inflammatory cause of lower back pain, examining the back for signs of deformities, performing neurological workups and potentially ordering imaging tests if deemed necessary as a result of the overall evaluation, are all steps a chiropractor should take in evaluating a child.

Based on the review, because children and adolescents’ musculoskeletal systems are still developing, they are at an increased risk of trauma and persistent muscle contractions, especially during periods of rapid growth. For this reason, evidence suggests the importance of preseason sports conditioning programs and neuromuscular training that will allow the athlete to gradually increase his or her training intensity and help reduce injuries. Additionally, rest should be incorporated into the training regimen, especially for athletes who perform repetitive motions, such as tumbling in gymnastics. Young athletes should not participate in more hours of sports in a week than their number of age in years.

Presented as a service to the community by: Union County Chiropractic Clinic, 110 Skyline Drive, Maynardville, TN (865) 992-7000 www.unioncountychiropractic.com