Back pain has for too long been stygmatized as a condition of elderly people

Even today, with the internet and all of its information at our fingertips, there seems to be a dearth of awareness regarding simple health issues. Perhaps this void is gettting larger because of the preponderance of misinformation being fed into it. For young people, this capacity to access information seems almost built in. Yet the amount of distractions it provides often overwhelm its positive attributes.

Take back pain for example; yes your back is naturally resilient to injury and pain at a young age; no it will not stay that way forever. Depending on your job, and level of activity, it could reach a point of degradation sooner rather than later. Even if you don’t believe that the spine is a pinnacle of wellness, anyone can agree that back pain is not doing you any favors. 

Young and invincible- unfortunately your spine does not have the ability to share this sentiment

From the day you are born, your spine is in a fight; it is a fight to maintain alignment and balance that takes place in every movement you make growing up. While some risk factors for back pain are hereditary, particular risk factors facing our younger populations include:

• Lack of physical activity- video games, too much computer interaction, sitting at school, sitting at home, etc. It all adds up. 
• Sports injuries- children are more active than adults, meaning that their risk for activity-related injuries is higher
• Poor posture with electronics- forward head posture, seen when using cell phones, is pervasive.
• Unsubstatial diet, poor eating patterns, and obesity at a young age puts the spine under unnecessary pressure.
• Growth spurts and growing pains.
• Smoking in adolescence.

If you are a child, or the parent of a child, of these tech-savvy generations, it is time to take responsibility for the health of your spine. 

Helping young people take care of their spines in Dunedin

We want to get young people excited about taking care of their spines. As a younger person, your spine is at a vantage point that many of us can only dream of; being proactive about its maintenance is one of the best things you can do for future you. At our office in Dunedin, we help young people seek spinal health in the following ways:

• Spinal adjustments to maintain spinal alignment, range of motion and healthy circulation.
• Postural assessments and techniques for sitting better
• Natural and effective rehabilitation modalities for sports injuries
• Simple corrective exercise and stretching

The younger your spine, the easier it is to maintain. Join us on a quest for spinal health that will benefit you long into the future- give our office a call in Dunedin to schedule an appointment today.