Causes of back pain in children
While a single incident can cause sudden spinal injury, cases of nagging, ongoing back pain seem to be caused by a range of factors working in combination. Relatively minor injuries as a result of normal sports and games may lead to muscle spasm, so some back muscles may have to work harder than others. This can cause fatigue, pain and changes in posture. Poor posture can further contribute to back pain. A child with a sore back may avoid sporting activities, and the lack of exercise may then cause further problems.
Many things can lead to back pain in children, including:
- Gender, since back pain is more common in females
- Age, since children at 12 years and over experience significantly more back pain than younger children
- Obesity and poor posture
- Heavy schoolbags carried on one shoulder or in one hand
- Incorrectly packed backpacks
- Sedentary (sitting down) lifestyle, such as watching a lot of television or sitting in front of the computer
- Injuries caused by vigorous sports such as football or horse riding, flexibility-dependent sports such as gymnastics or dance, and power sports such as weightlifting or rowing
- Soft tissue injuries, such as strains and sprains
- Competitive sports that demand intense training – it is thought that tight thigh muscles can trigger lower back pain.