Prolonged sitting during lockdown is likely to cause musculoskeletal changes in the body
Back pain is a well-known source of discomfort in adults, but it is also being diagnosed more frequently in children and adolescents. Most parents donot expect otherwise healthy children to complain of back pain-a problem generally associated with middle age or later. However, studies have found back pain occurs in between 14 per cent and 24 per cent of children and adolescents.
Prolonged sitting in front of computers due to pandemic-forced online learning is likely to further stress and cause musculoskeletal changes in the body. Some reasons why back pain may be common in kids include higher average body weight, obesity, intensebut infrequent sporting activities, and crucially, increased screen time.
Determining the severity of back problems remains a challenge, especially whether a pain requires medical attention or is just a simple strain, and knowing when expensive specialised imaging tests might be helpful. There are warning signs to look out for, to aid in understanding whether a back pain problem in an adolescent may be more serious. While poor posture or muscle strains can lead to prolonged pain, at the simplest level, if any pain lasts for more than a few days or gets progressively worse, then it is imperative to seek medical counsel.
Scoliosis is a deformity of the backbone (spine). Scoliosis refers to a condition where the spine has a side-to-side curve, and the curve of the spine measures 10 degrees or more. A normal spine appears straight when looked at from behind. But a child with scoliosis has a spine with an S or C shape. The child may thus look like he or she is leaning to one side. The curve can happen on the right or left side of the spine. Or it can happen on both sides in different sections. Both the middle (thoracic) and lower (lumbar) spine may be affected.
Scoliosis usually causes no pain, so symptoms can often go unnoticed. Parents or caregivers should watch for the following signs in their child: uneven shoulders, constant leaning to one side, uneven leg length, prominent shoulder blade(s), an uneven waist, or elevated hips.
A majority of children with back pain have symptoms that result from muscle or ligament injury, without any structural abnormality. Some of the back pain warning signs to look out for more serious problems include:night pain (especially pain that awakens your child from sleep), symptoms of generalized illness (fever, chills, malaise, weight loss), symptoms persisting beyond several weeks, symptoms in very young children, leg pain, numbness, or weakness. These warning signs donot necessarily denote a serious problem, however, they are a good screening test to determine if more evaluation should be pursued. For example, muscular back pain can persist for months.
Back pain in children and adolescents is not unusual and is becoming more common over time. Part of this is due to changes in the activities of children, and part is due to changes in the conditioning of children. If your child is experiencing back pain, especially if it is associated with the warning signs mentioned, it is worthwhile to have him or her be seen by a physical therapist. Initiating proper treatment, and ensuring the symptom improvement, can help to ensure problems donot become chronic.
The good news, for kids and parents alike, is that the vast majority of children with complaints of back pain find relief that tends to be lasting. While back pain can interfere with sports and day-to-day activities, with appropriate treatment, these children almost always return to full mobility and cessation of discomfort.
(The writer is a Delhi-based sports physiotherapist currently working with Sporting Ethos. The views expressed are personal.)