Back Pain in Kids: Causes and Relief in Colleyville, TX
Gentle, evaluation-first care for kids and teens with back pain in Colleyville, TX, guided by CLA INSiGHT scans, not guesswork.
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Back pain in kids can be worrying, but most of the time it has an ordinary cause. A clinical review on back pain in children from the American Academy of Family Physicians lists nonspecific pain and muscle strain among the most common causes, and notes that strains usually come on suddenly, stay in the back rather than spreading, and are tied to physical activity.
Everyday life gives kids plenty of chances to strain something:
- Sports, practices and tryouts
- Falls and hits during play or games
- Long stretches hunched over a phone, tablet or homework
- Carrying a heavy backpack, especially on one shoulder
- Sitting for hours in a car seat, a school desk or on the couch
Mayo Clinic’s page on neck pain points out that looking down at a smartphone or sitting hunched over a computer can overwork the muscles that hold the head up, and the same posture puts extra work on the upper back. Kids spend a lot of time in exactly that position.
A good exam also rules out the things that shouldn’t be missed, including checking posture and spine shape for scoliosis signs in kids and teens.
Backpacks get a lot of the blame. KidsHealth’s backpack safety guide for parents says doctors and physical therapists recommend kids carry no more than 10% to 20% of their body weight, which works out to about 8 to 16 pounds for an 80-pound child. It suggests:
- Using both shoulder straps instead of slinging the pack over one shoulder
- Tightening the straps so the pack sits close to the body, centered on the back
- Packing heavier items like textbooks closest to the back and using every compartment
- Bending at the knees and using both hands to lift the pack
KidsHealth also lists signs a pack is too heavy: your child struggles to get it on or off, leans forward to carry it, or has back pain. To be fair to backpacks, the AAFP review notes that heavy backpacks don’t appear to be associated with back pain in school-age kids, and that the 10% to 20% guideline isn’t based on strong evidence. It is still a sensible habit, and an easy one to fix.
Screens add their own daily load. Bringing the device up toward eye level and taking regular breaks helps, since tech neck from screen time affects kids too.
Sports deserve a closer look when the pain is in the lower back. The AAOS OrthoInfo guide to back pain in children notes that stress fractures in the spine can happen in sports that repeatedly twist and arch the back, like gymnastics, diving and football, and that the pain usually feels worse with activity and better with rest. Pain that comes back with the same move at every practice is worth having checked rather than played through. For everyday aches in active kids, sports chiropractic for young athletes starts with how they move.
Some signs mean your child should see their pediatrician before anything else. The AAFP review lists several findings that warrant prompt medical evaluation:
- Back pain in a child younger than 4
- Pain at night that wakes your child up
- Fever, feeling unwell or unexplained weight loss along with the pain
- Constant pain that doesn’t ease with rest
- Numbness, tingling or weakness in the arms or legs, or any trouble walking
KidsHealth also advises talking to your child’s doctor about back pain or about any numbness or weakness in the arms or legs. Get emergency care right away for back pain after a serious fall or accident, or any new trouble controlling the bladder or bowels.
Before any appointment, a few notes help: where your child points when you ask where it hurts, when it shows up (during sports, after sitting, at night), what movement brings it on, and whether it settles with rest. It also helps to ask what they have stopped doing because of the pain. Bring those notes to your child’s first visit.
For everyday aches from sports, posture and busy schedules, Dr. Williams starts with a conversation with you and your child, a gentle exam of how the spine and hips move, and a CLA INSiGHT scan, which takes a few minutes with no needles and nothing uncomfortable. Pediatric chiropractic for kids and teens is gentle and adjusted to their size, and we spend time on habits they can actually stick with. Our office in Colleyville, TX is an easy drive from Southlake and North Richland Hills.
Is it normal for kids to have back pain?
Occasional back pain is fairly common in kids and teens, and the American Academy of Family Physicians lists muscle strain and nonspecific pain among the most common causes, often tied to sports or activity. Pain that wakes your child at night, comes with fever or weight loss, or affects a child under 4 should be checked by your pediatrician.
How heavy should my child's backpack be?
KidsHealth says doctors and physical therapists recommend no more than 10% to 20% of your child’s body weight, or about 8 to 16 pounds for an 80-pound child. The research linking backpacks to back pain is mixed, but using both straps and packing heavy items close to the back are easy habits worth keeping.
When should I worry about my child's back pain?
Call your pediatrician for back pain in a child younger than 4, pain that wakes them at night, pain with fever, feeling unwell or weight loss, constant pain, or numbness, tingling or weakness in the arms or legs. Get emergency care after a serious fall or any trouble with bladder or bowel control.
Can kids see a chiropractor for back pain?
Yes. Pediatric chiropractic care is gentle and adjusted to a child’s size. At Radiant Chiropractic, we start with an exam and a CLA INSiGHT scan, check posture and spine shape, and coordinate with your pediatrician when something needs a medical look. Parents’ most common questions about chiropractic for kids cover safety and what the first visit is like.
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