Back Pain in Children

2007 Copyright Harvard Health Publications

Question:

Is back pain in children common? What should you do if your child has back/low back pain?

Answer:

No, unlike most adults, who complain of back pain at one time or another, children rarely complain of back pain. Headaches and bellyaches are much more common complaints in children than backaches.

Some common causes of back pain in children include muscle strain from any activity, tight muscles from stress, overusing certain muscle groups repeatedly, training too hard in sports, gymnastics, or dance, and injury from accidents. Once children enter their teen years and go through puberty, they may become more involved in sports or take more risks in daily activities, which also can set them up for more injuries.

In addition, some diseases and conditions can cause back pain, such as urinary tract infection, kidney stone, or joint problems that involve the spine. Finally, if children have a problem with their posture (how straight they hold their bodies upright), spine (for example, scoliosis or curvature of the spine), or legs (one leg is not quite as long as the other, meaning the body is not perfectly balanced on each side), they also may complain of back pain.

Treatment for back pain usually means resting, limiting activity, putting ice packs on the sore area, and taking something for pain. If these simple measures do not make any difference in a couple of days, you should speak with your doctor. If your child has back pain and fever or other signs of illness, call your doctor to discuss it right away.

Henry (Hank) Bernstein, D.O. is a Senior Lecturer in Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and Professor of Pediatrics at Dartmouth Medical School. Formerly the Associate Chief of General Pediatrics and Director of Primary Care at Children's Hospital Boston, he currently is the Chief of General Academic Pediatrics at Children's Hospital at Dartmouth. He has extensive and varied experience as a primary care pediatrician, and is a spokesperson for the news media on a variety of pediatric health care topics, including vaccination, common childhood illnesses, and practical information for caregivers.

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Source: from the Harvard Health Publications Family Health Guide, Copyright © 2007 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved.

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