Adolescent Back Pain May Herald Lifetime of Ill

Adolescent Back Pain May Herald Lifetime of Ill Health

`The authors of this study point out that, during adolescence, the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in general, particularly back pain, rises steeply. Although often dismissed as trivial and fleeting, adolescent back pain is responsible for substantial health care usage, school absence, and interferes with day-to-day activities in some children.’ According to new research adolescent back pain may predict 1 poor overall health, and risk of chronic disease throughout life. This new study in the Journal of Public Health indicates that adolescents who experience back pain more frequently are also more likely to smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, and report mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. But too few of them are seeking chiropractic care, which was recently cited in a major call to action by the Lancet as a ‘drug-free approach to the management of back pain’.

Low back pain: a call for action1 Lancet Volume 391, No. 10137, p2384–2388, 9 June 2018 https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/ article/PIIS0140-6736(18)30488-4/fulltext

Tips to Support Healthy Development

•Limit screen time: under 3yrs – Zero screen time (paediatricians’ recommendations). Prioritise time for meaningful connections with your children •Limit weight in school bags – petition schools to make pull-along bags the uniform – especially high school (more health benefits than the colour of kids’ shoes) •Carry back packs on both shoulders •Have screens set at the right height for good posture •Limit homework time (sitting) and use afternoons for outdoor movement and fun family time •Hand-held device postures that minimise forward head tilt.

Dr Lorene Dennis Chiropractor