(RxWiki News) Lower back pain in school-aged children may be common, according to a new study.
In fact, lower back pain may affect around 18 percent of adolescents between the ages of 14 and 16, this study found. But the pain may not stop there — back pain during youth may develop into back pain during adulthood.
The Nationwide Children’s Hospital Sports Medicine researchers behind this study found no single cause of lower back pain in youth. But they did find that most cases were due to musculoskeletal overuse or trauma.
Back pain was more common in children participating in high levels of competition. Also, children with either low or high levels of physical activity appeared to have an increased risk of back pain, these researchers found.
Having your child take part in preseason sports conditioning programs and neuromuscular training and allowing enough rest in their training regimen may help prevent injuries, according to these researchers. A rule of thumb: Children should not participate in more hours of sports each week than their number of years old, according to a press release about this study.
Only 7 percent of adolescents with lower back pain received treatment, this study found. The good news is that many pediatricians can help prevent and manage lower back pain in young patients. Talk to your child’s doctor if your child is having back pain.
This study, which reviewed existing research on children and lower back pain, was published in JAMA Pediatrics.
The Clinical and Translational Intramural Funding Program provided study funding through the Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital. The study authors disclosed no potential conflicts of interest.
