Research studies on adolescents show neck and upper limb pain are more common in the fall-spring, and speculate it is because of the added schedule demands and academic stresses at that time, combined with playing musical instruments, jobs, sports involvement, studying, and long hours sitting.
Other findings to note:
– Early degenerative changes have been found in 14 yr. olds. often rapidly following the adolescent growth spurt It’s also been found that the frequency of disc degeneration was increased in those that had low back pain as teenagers.
– Another study examined 15 yr. olds with and without back pain and found that subjects who initially had low back pain had a lower frequency of physical activity (bad!) and decreased spinal function; at follow up time the degenerative disc disease had increased significantly in the group with low back pain.
– 13% of adolescents studies had evidence of spinal degeneration without any pain or symptoms
I love working with teenagers for many reasons. Similar to children, their spines have been in a subluxated state for less time, and there is less progression of spinal damage. Translation: they heal faster, in less time and it costs less.
Everyone can benefit from a spine that is moving well, adapting to stress, and performing the way it was designed to.
Structure dictates function. Spinal subluxations affect your joint mobility, but more importantly they affect the ability of your brain and spinal cord to coordinate all the internal functions that regulate how you think, feel, digest, breathe, and heal.
If your teenager has not been checked by a Chiropractor, make it a priority! Or share this information with your niece, nephew, grandchild, cousin, neighbour…any teenager that you care about!
Disclaimer: Chiropractic care supports overall health and healing, but is not a cure or treatment for degenerative disc disease in children.