Can you remember a time before back pain?

For many of us, it is a struggle just to keep the pain down, let alone achieve fulll range of motion in our spinal joints. But there was a time not long ago when we could do seemingly anything without even giving a thought to back pain. Chances are your kids are living through these halcyon days right now, blissfully unaware of how much strife back pain causes. Unfortunately, since the technology boom, our youth are facing more risk factors than ever when it comes to maintaining the health of their spines.

Why is back pain becoming more prevalent in younger generations?

The short answer is: sedentary lifestyles. More and more of our entertainment is fed through screens; more of our jobs are moving into blue collar scenarios; even exercise is moving inside. This dramatic shift is created and fueled by technology, and young people are just as susceptible as you and me. More so, in fact, because the pursuit of entertainment through technology has become second nature to our youth. Here are the most pressing issues facing our young people  in their quest to maintain good spinal health: 

• Over-involvement in sports
• Poor training techniques in these sports
• Too much weight in the backpack 
• Growth spurts contributing to muscular imbalance 
• Too much television and computer usage
• Cell phones causing forward head posture
• Poor diet choices contributing to obesity

The golden advantage of youth: a resilient spine

From a chiropractor’s perspective, young people have it all. Their spines have not yet settled into a pattern of succumbing to compression that wreaks havoc in our older populations. But it is important to remember that this pattern is starting now unless they do something about it! In fact, it starts when we are born: your spine is fighting during every single movement you make to maintain balance.

One of the best gifts you can give your children is an awareness of their spinal health

At OFW Chiropractic we help young people find better spinal health in the following ways:

• Awareness of how their actions impact their spine
• Recognition and reduction of risk factors
• Core strengthening
• Good posture
• Improved biomechanics and technique during athletics

And if they suffer injury that causes back pain, chiropractic offers the conservative care that is appropriate for helping young people recover. Our all-natural modalities help restore spinal balance and set your child’s spine up for success in the future. If you are interested in enacting a spinal health care plan for your child’s future, give our office in Westwood a call to schedule an appointment today.