How To Prevent Back Pain in Children in Vacaville

Back pain in children in Vacaville can also be common wherein it can affect 18% to 58% of youth.

Kids these days take joy in doing "adult" activities as well. They like to play sports, carry heavy loads, and sit for long periods, which are also common causes of back pain in adults. Children's spine is never more vulnerable than during the early years of development.

If that is the case, how do you protect your child in Vacaville?

1. Keep flip-flops for the pool - Flip-flops are great to wear when in the beach and pool, but it is not recommended for long distances in walking. There are supportive shoes designed for walking so have them use those. Wearing flip-flops can change your gait, take shorter steps, and curl your toes to hold the footwear in place every time you take a step. If your child keeps on wearing this for longer distances, it can lead to problems with their hips, knees, and lower legs, thereby causing sore back and feet pain.
2. Be careful with high-risk sports - There are physical activities that can cause back pain if an injury occurs, but generally staying active can be beneficial for your back. To be specific, activities that involve extension, rotation, high impacts or repetitive activities can lead to spondylolysis, which causes one of the vertebrae in the lower back to defect or fracture. Ballet, diving, football, rowing, high jumping, and weightlifting are some of the sports that can put your back at risk.
3. Teach your child how to lift properly - Some people improperly lift heavy items by bending their waist. If your child sees this, they are sure to imitate it as well. Teach them to lift properly by bending their knees and using their legs instead of their back. If possible, discourage your kids from lifting very heavy items or bulky-shaped items.
4. Make them love exercise - Low back pain won't be a common occurrence in children if they also do exercises regularly. If they do have it, it will be less severe compared to those who are just sedentary. Of course, it doesn't necessarily mean that you have to enroll them in aerobic classes - playing tag, biking with friends, and after-school sports can still count as an "exercise". The best part about an exercise is that it can help strengthen the core muscles of your child, which is important for back support and may even improve their posture.
5. Use backpacks safely - Backpacks that are too heavy or worn incorrectly can cause problems for your child. This can injure the muscles and joints, which can lead to severe neck, shoulder, and back pain, as well as posture problems. You can let your child wear two shoulder straps so that the weight will be evenly distributed. If possible, let your child carry a lighter load especially if they are using backpacks.

So, make sure to follow these tips to prevent the early onset of back pain in your child. If you want, you can have your child checked by a chiropractor here in our clinic at Absolute Integrative Physical Medicine in Vacaville, CA. We offer chiropractic treatments that are not only limited to adults but can also be beneficial for children as well. Just give us a call by dialing (707) 474-5688 and set up an appointment today.