There are many causes of back pain in children – from common muscle strains to more complex and serious spinal problems. Our orthopedic specialists accurately diagnose and treat all causes of back pain in children. We create a custom treatment plan that relieves your child’s back pain and gets them comfortably moving again.
Overview
What is pediatric back pain?
Muscle strain can cause back pain in children, or it could be a sign of a more serious condition.
Signs and Symptoms
What are the signs and symptoms of pediatric back pain?
If your child has muscle strain, the symptom will be pain, especially with movement.
More serious conditions that can cause back pain may involve the following symptoms:
Constant crying or complaining of pain
Numbness in the back, arms or legs
Pain that does not go away after several weeks of home treatment
Pain that does not go away after taking over-the-counter pain relief
Pain that wakes your child from sleep
Weakness in arms or legs
Diagnosis
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
Causes
What are the causes of pediatric back pain?
The most common conditions that cause back pain in children include:
Infection in the disk space
Muscle strain injury
Scheuermann's kyphosis (rounded back)
Spondylolisthesis (slipped vertebra)
Tumor on the spine
Spondylolysis (defect of the joint between vertebrae)