THE GROWING EPIDEMIC OF LOW BACK PAIN IN CHILDREN
In years past, low back pain was thought to be a malady afflicting only the elderly. Well, it’s not just your granddad’s disorder any longer. Once considered a rare pediatric condition, low back pain in children has become a growing concern among many in the medical community.
It seems that many of the same health issues that initiate low back pain in adults, such as poor posture, misalignment of vertebrae, trauma, emotional stress and sports injuries, have the same affect on children. Add to these issues the fact that most school-age children carry backpacks that weigh 10-20% of their body weight, and you have a recipe for life-long health concerns and back pain. Emotional
stress is also an important factor to consider. Adolescents are subject
to wildly varying emotions sometimes compared to a rollercoaster ride.
It can be terrifying and exhilarating at the same time; filled with soaring,
sky-high excitement only to suddenly plummet into a downward spiral. Interestingly,
research is now linking these rollercoaster emotions with lower back pain.
Natural Medication Alternatives For Low Back Pain When spinal vertebrae become misaligned, whether in an adult or in a child, the diagnosis is called vertebral subluxation. This may sound like a frightening medical condition, but it is one that a professional chiropractic doctor can address with great success. Chiropractic
care addresses the nervous system which, among a myriad of other miraculous
functions, governs the way in which our bodies react physically to stress.
Chiropractic adjustments actually help your body release pent-up stress,
relieving tight muscles, tendons and ligaments, and helping to prevent
low back pain. Degenerative Disc Disease – Is Your Child At Risk? DDD, or degenerative disc disease, is actually a form of arthritis and has been proven to be a common cause of lower back and leg pain in children. Surprisingly, DDD has even been diagnosed in infants. Degenerative
disc disease sounds like a progressive, very frightening disease that
could certainly alarm any parent, so here is a brief explanation of DDD.
Changes in the water and protein content of the body's cartilage results
in weaker, more fragile and thin cartilage. This more typically occurs
as we get older. Now, because both the discs and the joints that stack
the vertebrae are partly composed of cartilage, these areas are, unfortunately,
subject to degenerative changes. The deterioration of the disc between
the vertebrae is referred to as degenerative disc disease, and makes the
disc tissue more susceptible to herniation. Natural Remedies For Degenerative Disc Disease Are Available DDD is not always accompanied by lower back or leg pain, so the wisest course of action is to seek preventative chiropractic care for you and your children. Further, degenerative disc disease preventative care should begin prior to puberty. A wealth of scientific research confirms that chiropractic
care provides safe, effective, and drug-free relief from back and neck
pain … regardless of the cause. So if your child complains of low
back pain, if you notice a difference in the way he walks, stands or sits,
or if you suspect a sport-related trauma, do not ignore these symptoms.
Protect your child’s physical and emotional health by contacting
your chiropractic care professional.
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