People
often assume that lower back pain (LBP) is just a problem just for the elderly,
or for middle-aged adults who have a history of physical wear and tear. But
this is simply untrue. The fact is that over 31 million Americans live with
lower back pain on a regular basis, and a great number of them are adolescents.
High
school sports are starting up any day now, and it’s important that parents and
coaches realize that low back pain is a serious issue—one that no high school
or middle school student should experience—and one that should be evaluated
thoroughly.
Recent
studies have indicated that many high school students who participate in sports
programs are at high risk for developing lower back pain—and worse, very few of them seek or receive
proper chiropractic treatment. This is increasingly recognized as a legitimate
public health concern: A 25-year-long study of adolescent risk factors for LBP,
published in 2000, revealed that students who had lower back pain at age 14
were likelier to have back pain 25 years later than students who didn't have
LBP when they were teenagers. Prevention of back pain in youth may contribute
to the absence of back pain in adulthood!
In
the 22 years since that study, not much has changed. A recent study published
in the British Journal of Sports Medicine examined Finnish teenage
athletes participating in a variety of sports. Researchers looked at the
experience of 464 male and female athletes representing 22 basketball,
floorball (a type of floor hockey popular in Nordic countries), ice hockey, and
volleyball teams. They found that 255 athletes (55%) had experienced lower back
pain in the past year. 51 players (11%) had suffered for longer than four
weeks, and 80 (17.2%) had pain so severe that they had to miss training. However,
only about 73 of them (only 29% of those with back pain) had received any
medical attention for LBP.
Another
study of 12,306 adolescent soccer players found that a significant percentage
of them were likely to suffer injuries that cause lower back pain, resulting in
the loss of 10,265 training days and—more importantly—putting them at higher
risk for LBP as they age. The study also concluded that the likelihood of
injury resulting in LBP increased dramatically if a young athlete received no
medical attention, then returned to play before the injury had healed.
Parents
of teenage athletes should weigh all of this information carefully if their son
or daughter begins to complain of lower back pain. Don’t let them ignore it and
go back to playing without having the condition addressed. Remember—“walking it
off” today could have longer-term health consequences that go beyond the
discomfort or pain they’re feeling in the moment. Parents should also know that
other studies have found chiropractic care to be the safest, most effective
form of LBP treatment. Chiropractic and other muscle and joint therapy can help
relieve your child’s pain today and help prevent a lifetime of lower back pain
in the future, without drugs and without surgery. If your children are complaining of a low
back pain, don’t hesitate to call Giebler Chiropractic. It’s an excellent first step in what may
prevent decades of low back issues in your son or daughter. Call 894-2399 or visit www.gieblerchiropractic.com
today to learn more, and remember:
questions and consultations are always free.
High school athletes seem to have
less and less time ‘off’ from sports and practices throughout the year, so
addressing issues with their muscles and joints early is key and crucial!
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