Does your child complain about lower back pain? Children can suffer from back pain as much as adults due to a number of factors in their day to day lives. Often we can dismiss their complaints however when the complaints become persistent it is vitally important to seek professional advice and treatment.
Here are some of the most common causes of back pain in children I tend to see in clinic with some advice on avoiding it…
• Too much or too little exercise- Some children are involved in competitive sports and run the risk of getting strain injuries. While some 
kids who are sedentary on the other hand may have problems due to sitting in one position for a long period of time. It is important to maintain regular physical activity which helps keep the core muscles strong. Stronger core muscles such as the transverse abdominis (‘abs) will support the spine and prevent the straining leading to back pain. Activities I advise parents to encourage are lots of walking, swimming, running and cycling.
• Sport injuries- Children play a lot of sport growing up especially at school and some may have hobbies such as tennis or football in their leisure time with friends. Injuries are often common either directly or in the form of overuse of certain muscles.
If injuries are not resolved then problems can arise and create problems in the future leading to not being able to play the sport they love. I recommend addressing injuries immediately rather then waiting to see if they resolve themselves. Book your child in for a treatment ASAP!
• Screen time- Children and teens can spend long periods of time looking down at their phones, laptops and tablets as modern technology is on the rise. This can lead to back muscles being pulled and weakened as this is not
our natural posture, muscles which are often affected are the para-spinal muscles. These muscles run down each side of the spine and are the illiocostalis, longisimus and spinalis collectively known as the erector spinae muscle. Chronic muscle tension can occur as there is a constant unnatural posture, eventually leading to pain and postural changes. Placing limits on the time spent using the devise, keeping their legs uncrossed and encouraging regular movement out the position they are in may avoid issues. A maximum of 30 minutes at a time should be advisable for screen time when doing homework or playing computer games and then having a break. It is important to stretch hydrate and walk around before continuing.
• Poorly set up desks- Often children study on the dinner table or desk which is not the right height for them, you can find them slouching hunched over looking down at their work. Encourage your child to sit up straight and consider purchasing a support that elevates their screen if using a laptop or tablet; you can also buy a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse so they have more room to move and greater flexibility. These items do not break the bank and can be purchased online easily (Amazon or Ebay).
• Weight of school bags- School children are often required to carry bags usually full of school books, PE kits, music instruments and other equipment from and to school. Parents and guardians should try and keep 
the weight of these bags down as much as possible and avoid over packing, it is also equally important to invest in a good quality backpack ideally with a thick shoulder strap over both shoulders and a strap across their chest in order to keep the load close to their body. This decrease the pulling of the weight and unnecessary muscle tension. Pack the bag with heaviest items such as laptop and big books closer to the child’s body to prevent the trapezius (shoulder muscle) and the lumbar erector spinae (low back muscles) becoming strained.
• Shoes- Lack of support in shoes can result in foot, knee, hip or ankle pain. Check to see that your child’s shoes are correctly fitted and are supportive especially in the arches of the foot to avoid dropping of the arches and flat feet later on. An Osteopath can help advise you regarding this.
• Poor posture- This can come about during the teens growth spurt or when a child is one the tallest in the class, they find themselves slouching in order to not tower over their peers leading to rounding of the shoulders and a forward head posture creating a ‘C’ shape at the back of the neck. The ears are no longer in line with the shoulders and the pelvis this can lead to upper cross syndrome suffering from weakened rhomboids (muscles between the scapula) and tightened Pectoral muscles. The mid back becomes more locked and can lead to the lower back over compensating resulting in pain in that area due to overuse.
Osteopathic treatment can really help relieve your child’s back pain by using a combination of treatment modalities including gentle manual therapy, mobilisation and articulation of the spine and soft tissue massage to resolve any stresses and strains that may be affecting their body. Osteopaths can also provide resourceful lifestyle advice that may reduce the chances of reoccurring problems.
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