Back pain in children

What is pediatric back pain?

Back pain in children may be the result of muscle strain, poor posture, spine injuries or other issues. But children younger than 4 with back pain, or those who also have symptoms like fever, muscle weakness or bladder problems, may have a more serious condition. At Children’s Health, we perform advanced diagnostic testing to pinpoint the precise cause of your child’s back pain. A fast, accurate diagnosis is key to starting the appropriate treatments and getting your child relief.

What are the signs and symptoms of back pain in children?

Back pain is a type of musculoskeletal pain that can occur anywhere along a child’s spine from their neck to their tailbone. Chronic or severe back pain can affect your child’s ability to be active, focus on schoolwork and have fun with family and friends.

Signs of a muscle strain

When a muscle strain causes back pain, your child may have muscle spasms (myoclonus) along with pain that:

• Intensifies after long periods of standing or sitting

• Makes it difficult to fall or stay asleep

• Worsens with movement like bending or jumping

Signs of a more serious back problem

Signs of a more serious cause of back pain include:

• Changes in walking patterns (gait abnormalities)

• Fever

• Pain that gets progressively worse

• Tingling sensation, pain or numbness in the butt or legs

• Unexplained abnormal weight loss

• Urinary incontinence or bowel (fecal) incontinence

How is back pain in children diagnosed?

Our pediatric orthopedic and spine specialists have deep expertise in diagnosing muscle strains, as well as more complex conditions that cause back pain in children.

Physical examination

We start by conducting a comprehensive physical exam that assesses your child’s:

• Balance, flexibility and coordination

• Muscle strength and tightness

• Posture

• Reflexes

• Walking gait

Advanced tests

To rule out certain conditions and make an accurate diagnosis, your child may get these tests:

• X-rays

• Blood and urine tests

• CT scan

• MRI

• Ultrasound

What causes back pain in children?

Many conditions can cause back pain in children.

Common causes of muscle strain or back pain in children include:

• Accidents and injuries, including sports injuries

• Repetitive lifting, twisting or extension exercises or movements

• Excessive heavy and repetitive weightlifting training

• Lifting heavy items, including carrying heavy backpacks

• Starting a new physical activity or intensifying an exercise program

More complex causes of back pain in children include:

• Herniated disk or diskitis (disk infection and inflammation)

• Kidney stones, bladder stones and urinary tract infections (UTIs)

• Noncancerous (benign) bone tumors

• Overuse injuries, such as slipped vertebra or stress fractures in the spine (spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis)

• Spinal problems, such as scoliosis, lordosis(swayback) and kyphosis (hump in the back)

How is back pain in children treated?

Treatments for back pain in children vary depending on the underlying cause. When appropriate, our orthopedic and spine specialists partner with other Children’s Health experts to ensure your child gets the care they need.

Our orthopedic and sports medicine institute provides a full spectrum of services. Your child has access to:

• Advanced spine and scoliosis treatments

• Comprehensive Sports Medicine Center with a dedicated running program

• Experienced team of pediatric orthopedic surgeons

• Individualized sports rehabilitation and physical therapy

• Innovative dance sports medicine program

• Specialists in chronic pain and pain management