What are Common Causes of Youth Back Pain?

Youth Spinal Pain

Teenager Neck & Back Pain

Teenagers can be particularly vulnerable to back pain, mainly due to a combination of high flexibility and low muscle strength and posture control. 

The competitive athlete and most individuals who exercise regularly or maintain a level of fitness and core stability control are less prone to spine injury and problems due to the strength and flexibility of supporting structures. Your physiotherapist can assist the resolution of any deficits in this area. Luckily, issues involving the lower lumbar spine are rare in athletes and account for less than 10% of sports-related injuries. Injuries do occur in contact sports and with repetitive strain sports.

Sports such as gymnastics, cricket fast bowlers, and tennis have a higher incidence of associated lumbar spine problems related to repetitive twisting and hyper-bending motions.

Spondylolisthesis is a significant concern and needs to be appropriately treated by a physiotherapist with a particular interest in these type of injuries. Luckily, most injuries are minor, self-limited, and respond quickly to physiotherapy treatment.

Common Adolescent Spinal Injuries

Lower Back (Lumbar Spine)

• Back Muscle Pain
• Bulging Disc
• Spondylolysis
• Spondylolisthesis

Midback (Thoracic Spine)

• Posture
• Scheuermann’s Disease
• Scoliosis

Neck (Cervical Spine)

• Neck Sprain
• Wry Neck
• Text Neck
• Cervical Facet Joint Pain
• Neck Headache

Pelvis

• Sacroiliac Joint Pain
• Osteitis Pubis

For specific advice regarding youth neck or back pain, please seek the professional advice of your trusted spinal physiotherapist or doctor.

Common Youth & Teenager Sports Injuries

Common Youth Leg Injuries

Common Youth Arm Injuries