Advance Physical Therapy

Advance Physical Therapy

Certified Postural Restoration Center · C2 Advanced Schroth Certified Scoliosis Therapists (BSPTS)

Certified Postural Restoration Center · C2 Advanced Schroth Certified Scoliosis Therapists (BSPTS)

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Children and Back Pain

March 6, 2014 by Lisa Mangino

            Last week there was a story on NPR about young athletes and back pain. 

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/02/03/269521744/young-athletes-risk-back-injury-by-playing-too-much-too-soon

The story was about children who are spending increased time with one sport, resulting in overuse injuries, particularly back pain.  With the added excitement of the Olympics this month, young people are inspired to compete and to perform to be the best they can.

            However, repetition of the same active motion without balanced, strong muscle support can set one up for injury, regardless of age.  If low back muscles are overused without the same strength of the abdominals (especially the abdominals on the side of the trunk), to hold the spine and rib cage in the proper neutral position, back pain can result. 

            Further, breathing patterns can be a factor.  If a child can only breathe with his or her mouth open, or can’t breathe efficiently without using his or her low back muscles, this might indicate weakness of the abdominals on the side of the trunk and poor breathing mechanics.  These powerful side abdominals have an important role in stabilization of the spine, pelvis and rib cage, as well as efficient breathing.  If you suspect your child’s back pain might be a result of poor posture or breathing mechanics, try this test. 90_90 peds

            Position your child with his or her knees on the wall and hips and knees bent 90 degrees. Prop up the head with pillows and watch.  You are looking to see if your child can breathe with his or her body in a bent position and low back muscles lengthened.

            Signs that this is difficult include:

·      raising arms over head

·      arching the low back

·      open mouth breathing with inability to keep lips  closed

·      yawning to try to get more air in

·      overall difficulty maintaining the position

            If any of these signs are noted, and your child is complaining of low back pain, he or she might have a low back overuse injury.

            Back muscles should be used for stability and movement not overused for breathing.  If a child can’t breathe without using low back muscles, he or she might need help with retraining muscles for breathing to relax the low back and decrease or stop back pain.

            Our pediatric physical therapy specialist at Advance Physical Therapy has the special training your child might need.  Call today!

           

Filed Under: blog, Education, General, orthopaedic physical therapy, performance, Postural Restoration, screens Tagged With: adolescent, back pain, back pain in sport, children, overuse injury, pediatric, physical therapy for back pain, physical therapy for children, physical therapy for spondylolisthesis, sports performance

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About Lisa Mangino

Lisa is one of a few clinicians in the country with the unique combination of certifications in pediatrics and postural restoration as well as training in NDT and the Schroth Method for scoliosis. Lisa's interest include, but are not limited to: the prevention of surgery in children with scoliosis (combining both Schroth and PRI principles), performance improvement in young athletes, children with undiagnosed pain that has proven to be difficult to manage with traditional forms of physical therapy and gross motor incoordination/ gross motor delay.

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Advance Physical Therapy is a physical therapist owned practice offering quality rehabilitation to clients in Chapel Hill, Durham, Carrboro, Pittsboro, Cary and surrounding areas of the Triangle in North Carolina.

Our therapists are highly experienced in traditional physical therapy techniques and have specialized expertise in a variety of areas including Postural Restoration, Manual Therapy, Counterstrain, Schroth based Scoliosis Rehabilitation, Pediatrics, Sports Medicine, Orthotics and Personal Training.

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