Children and Back Pain: What You Need to Know
Traditionally, back pain in children has been treated as a sign of a potentially serious condition until proven otherwise. However, it’s now understood that benign back pain—pain not caused by anything serious—is more common in children and adolescents than was once thought.
How Common Is It?
Nonspecific back pain in children is increasingly prevalent, tending to increase with age and occurring more often in girls than boys. That said, back pain is still much less common in children than in adults—fewer than 30% of children and adolescents report back pain at all, and very few ever present to a doctor about it.
So Why Is Your Child Experiencing Back Pain?
Your child’s body faces physical stress every single day. Prolonged car rides, poor posture at school and at home, heavy backpacks, and small accidents while learning to ride a bike, ski, or skate are just a few of the stresses that can lead to a misalignment in your child’s spine.
Repetitive or prolonged postures—like the ones often assumed while sitting at school, watching TV, or using a computer—can affect a developing spine, not to mention an adult’s spine too. These postures may not cause pain right away, but when left unaddressed, your child may eventually start experiencing pain that gets brushed off as “growing pains.” It’s important to remember that these aches are your child’s body trying to communicate that something may be wrong, and they should never be dismissed without a thorough examination.
🎒 Wondering if your child's backpack or screen time habits could be behind their back pain? A quick assessment can help identify the cause
Red Flags to Watch For
“Red flags” are signs and symptoms that may point to a more serious underlying cause for the pain. Chiropractors are trained to recognize these red flags, which include:
- Night pain that prevents or disrupts sleep
- Fever
- Weight loss
- Malaise, fatigue, or a general feeling of being sick
- Limp or altered gait
- Significant back tenderness
- Bladder or bowel dysfunction
If your child is experiencing any of these alongside their back pain, it’s important to seek prompt medical evaluation.
When There Are No Red Flags
If no red flags are present, characterizing the pain—including how it started, how long it’s lasted, and how often it occurs—is essential to making an accurate diagnosis. It’s also important to identify any lifestyle changes that may be needed. Is your child carrying a backpack that’s too heavy? Spending too much time in front of the TV or playing video games? Adjusting the activities that may be aggravating the condition is essential to treating the pain quickly and effectively.
📋 Not sure whether your child's pain needs a lifestyle fix or a deeper look? A thorough exam can help you know for sure.
How Can Chiropractors Help?
Chiropractors help by making sure the joints in your child’s spine are free of irritation and properly positioned to support optimal growth and function. Beyond addressing the pain itself, this approach also supports healthy nervous system function as your child continues to grow.
Key Takeaways
Back pain in children is more common than many parents realize and is often linked to everyday stresses like posture, heavy backpacks, and screen time. While most cases are benign, it’s important to watch for red flags like night pain, fever, or bladder and bowel changes, and to have persistent pain properly evaluated rather than dismissed as “growing pains.”
Concerned About Your Child's Back Pain?
For more information, please contact Dr. Jen at Georgina Chiropractic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most childhood back pain is benign and linked to everyday factors like posture, heavy backpacks, or screen time. However, it should still be evaluated, especially if any red flag symptoms are present.
Night pain that disrupts sleep, fever, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, a limp or altered gait, significant tenderness, and bladder or bowel dysfunction are all red flags that warrant prompt medical evaluation.
Yes, a backpack that’s too heavy is a common contributing factor, along with poor posture during school, screen time, and other daily activities.
Chiropractors work to ensure the joints in your child’s spine are free of irritation and properly positioned, which can relieve pain and support healthy nervous system function as your child grows.
