Protect Your Teen’s Spine During Formative Developmental Years

While many adults face spinal pain and related injuries because of work-related incidents or a computer-oriented lifestyle, it’s a somewhat surprising and unfortunate reality that many teenagers also face chronic back pain. It’s a problem Ideal Spine is focused on bringing awareness to.

Remaining sedentary in school for hours on end can contribute to poor spine health. Additionally, school athletic activities may cause students to sustain overuse injuries. Many teenagers also carry an unhealthy number of books in their school backpacks, many of which are district-issued and not designed with ergonomics in mind.

It goes without saying that poor spinal health in adolescents will lead to a long, painful adulthood. That’s why it’s exceptionally important that parents and chiropractic care professionals do everything possible to help students overcome spinal issues and maintain a healthy back for the duration of their childhood. Investing in spinal health now will allow them to lead more enjoyable lives down the road.

Spinal dysfunction in teenagers

There are several common spinal dysfunctions that teenagers, their parents and their healthcare providers should be aware of, including the following:

• Disc injuries: When teenagers frequently make hard landings on their feet, the pressure is transmitted up the spine. During a teen’s formative years, this can result in permanent, serious disc damage.
• Scoliosis: Curvature of the spine is a relatively common ailment that affects younger children and teens. It’s important to regularly have a teenager’s spine analyzed for signs of scoliosis.
• Spondylolysis: This condition is commonly associated with sports injuries. It occurs when teenagers overextend their back. It’s most common in students who belong to gymnastics teams and other similar sports.

Protecting teen spines

There are a number of steps that both parents and healthcare practitioners can take to help teenagers make good decisions about spinal healthcare. Here are just some of the ways that kids can improve their spinal health outcomes:

• Sit less: From a very young age, children are taught to sit. Whether they’re in school, watching television or working on homework, children and teenagers spend much more time seated than they should. Encourage the teenagers in your life to stand, walk and move as much as possible to protect their spines.
• Ensure proper posture: If a teen learns how to exercise proper posture at a young age, they’ll be capable of exercising it throughout the rest of their life. It’s important to instill a proper posture in your children and patients from a very young age. And be sure to always lead by example.
• Insist on sports safety: Playing sports is a healthy part of growing up. Unfortunately, there is a certain amount of risk associated with most teen sports. You should encourage your teenagers to play safely. Additionally, you should educate yourself about sports injuries, so that you know how to address them in case they occur.

At Ideal Spine, we’re committed to helping young adults and adolescents avoid spinal injuries that might otherwise stick with them forever. It’s why we’re continually working to develop our Chiropractic BioPhysics (CBP) approach.

CBP is a renowned spinal care technique that chiropractors from across the globe can use to provide pediatric patients with the best possible chiropractic care. CBP is also a holistic approach to healthcare that accounts for a wide range of spinal health concerns.

Chiropractic BioPhysics® corrective care trained Chiropractors are located throughout the United States and in several international locations. CBP providers have helped thousands of people throughout the world realign their spine back to health, and eliminate a source of chronic back pain, chronic neck pain, chronic headaches and migraines, fibromyalgia, and a wide range of other health conditions. If you are serious about your health and the health of your loved ones, contact a CBP trained provider today to see if you qualify for care. The exam and consultation are often FREE. See www.CBPpatient.com for providers in your area.