Children experience backaches for one reason or the other. According to a survey, conducted of children below 15 years of age, 60% of boys and 70% of girls have experienced back pain. To avoid such pain among children, it is ideal to prevent it at an early age and to educate children to have adequate health habits of the back.

Back pain is usually of unknown origin and causes pain as a result of inflammation and muscle contracture. In some cases, a massage with an anti-inflammatory cream or taking medication gives good results, but sometimes you need a medical diagnosis and in some extreme cases, measures such as radiology, magnetic resonance and other means may be needed.

Back pain can be caused by a bad positioning of the chair at school or at home, while dining, studying etc or as a result of transporting excessive weight in the form of books and backpacks. Lack of physical exercises to strengthen the back and entire body, and also very sedentary habits like watching too much of TV, being a long time in bed instead of sitting or standing also contribute towards causing back pain. Injuries from a blow or fall also tend to disturb the back. Childhood obesity can also affect the spine of children.

Better be safe than sorry!

Like any other, it is better to prevent than to cure back problems. In any case, the practice of physical activity in childhood is the most important measure for preventing back pain in the future; they can become chronic over time. For this reason, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Kovacs Foundation encourages taking preventive measures and early education on the habits for a proper to the health of your back. A comic strip aimed at children between 6 and 10 years which advised sport as a family was also used. They show that it is desirable for parents to be accustomed to exercising at least twice a week, from an early age, so that this practice is consolidated during adolescence and adulthood.

Physical exercises help to make the muscles strong and resilient and also as a result of which, the spine is formed properly, preventing any future hassles. All exercises must be developed under supervision. Apart from physical exercises, it is also advisable to acquire good habits when it comes to carrying backpacks to school. Backpacks with wheels are the most desirable. Another risk factor is the position of children; it is seen that girls from age 9 to 10 years start to gain more height. It is thus recommended that both parents and teachers observe the positions and try to correct the posture so that children can sit comfortably in the chairs. The best thing posture being as far back as possible, with your back straight and elbows leaning on the desk.

Jonathan Pitts

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