Back Strain in Children: Symptoms, Treatment, and Recovery
If your child falls or jerks suddenly while playing and then begins complaining of lower back pain, this shouldn't be ignored. It's likely a back strain.
Parents often think it will heal on its own, but without treatment, tissues take a long time to recover. This interferes with the child's normal sleep and movement. To avoid future posture problems, it's important to begin treating a back strain immediately.
Let's look at how to recognize a back strain and how to properly treat it in the first few hours.
specialists
equipment
treatment
Why do children get back strains?
Injuries are usually caused by the fact that a child's skeleton grows faster than their muscles strengthen. This creates an imbalance, which distributes the load incorrectly.
Sports, active games, and sudden movements
Gymnastics, acrobatics, or wrestling place extreme strain on the spine and soft tissues. Injuries often occur during sudden movements:
- Bridge
- Tumbling
- Jerking during a tackle
It is during these moments that back muscle strains are often recorded. In football or basketball, injuries are usually associated with collisions or sudden changes in direction, when the tissues don't have time to react to the jerk and tear.
Falls, awkward turns, carrying heavy objects
Back injuries in children can occur due to minor incidents. A child might awkwardly reach for a toy, suddenly lift a heavy backpack, or trip on the stairs.
Even an awkward twist of the torso while playing with friends can cause a micro-tear. If the muscles were relaxed at the time, the risk of injury increases.
Weak core muscles and poor posture
Children who are sedentary are prone to injury. If a child spends a lot of time sitting at a computer or desk, poor posture develops.
Back muscles become weak and inelastic. In this situation, any slight strain can cause a strain on the child's back. A weak core muscle cannot hold the spine in the correct position during sudden movements.
Symptoms of a Back Strain in a Child
You can tell what's wrong by your child's behavior. Usually, symptoms of a back strain appear immediately, but sometimes the pain only intensifies the next morning when swelling sets in.
Main Signs of Injury
First, watch how your child moves. The pain usually intensifies with any activity and subsides when lying down. Your child may have difficulty bending over or straightening their back.
Swelling and bruising may appear at the site of the injury, although bruising is not always visible. The muscles may feel tight and hard—this is a sign of muscle spasm. To avoid pain, the child walks very carefully, trying not to move their body unnecessarily.
How to understand that urgent help is needed
There are situations when you can't wait. An urgent pediatric traumatologist is needed if the child is having difficulty breathing due to pain or if they complain of weakness in the legs and numbness in the fingers.
A very alarming sign is if the child has lost control of their bladder. Also, go to the hospital immediately if severe pain causes nausea, fainting, or if any new lumps or bumps are noticeable on the back itself.
When pain may indicate another problem
Sometimes back pain in a child is not related to the muscles. It can be referred, for example, due to kidney problems. If there was no injury, but the back hurts on its own and a fever develops, it is not a sprain. In such cases, you need to see a pediatrician.
General information
Diagnosis: How a Doctor Confirms a Diagnosis
The doctor must ensure that the spine is intact and that the pain is caused by soft tissue.
Examination by a Pediatric Traumatologist or Orthopedist
During the appointment, the pediatric traumatologist asks the child to show where the pain is and gently palpates the spine. The doctor checks the strength in the legs and knee reflexes. This is necessary to rule out pinched nerves. Often, a pediatric orthopedist makes a diagnosis after a visual examination and mobility tests.
When X-rays, MRI, or other tests are needed
If bone damage is suspected, an X-ray is prescribed. This will show cracks or displacements of the vertebrae. If the pain is severe, but the X-ray is clear, an MRI is required. The examination allows us to examine:
- Ligaments
- Disks
- Nerve roots
Ultrasound is prescribed less frequently, usually to assess the condition of large muscles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a back strain be treated at home?
How long does it take for a child to recover?
When can I return to sports?
Do I need imaging for a back strain?
What to do if you have back pain
If your child is injured, follow this algorithm:
- Immediately stop all activity and play
- Place your child down and ensure complete rest
- Be sure to use cold during the first few hours (apply ice through a layer of cloth)
- Avoid massage or applying heat to the injured area
- If the pain persists or worsens, call a doctor
"Tissue strains in children heal well if the load is removed promptly. The key is not to confuse the injury with a fracture, so if the pain is severe, a consultation with a pediatric traumatologist is essential," the specialist reminds.
Any back strain in a child is not something you can simply wait out. It's important to recognize the symptoms early and immediately give the muscles a rest.
Providing timely first aid for a back injury prevents severe inflammation from developing, meaning the child will return to their normal routine more quickly.
In medicine, a ligament strain is always a microtrauma that should not be ignored. If you're unsure what to do about back pain, it's best to take your child to a doctor immediately.
This award is given to clinics with the highest ratings according to user ratings, a large number of requests from this site, and in the absence of critical violations.
This award is given to clinics with the highest ratings according to user ratings. It means that the place is known, loved, and definitely worth visiting.
The ProDoctors portal collected 500 thousand reviews, compiled a rating of doctors based on them and awarded the best. We are proud that our doctors are among those awarded.
Make an appointment at a convenient time on the nearest date
Price
Other Services
Appointment to the doctor
Our clinics
Application “Personal Account K+31”
What is a back strain in a child?
In reality, ligaments and muscles barely stretch. By the term "strain," doctors mean microscopic tears in the fibers that support the spine.
When the back experiences a strain greater than the tissues can withstand, damage occurs. These small tears trigger inflammation and back pain in children. The tissues are actually injured, not just temporarily lengthened.
How is a strain different from a bruise and muscle spasm?
A bruise affects soft tissue and skin, where a bruise is usually immediately visible. A strain, on the other hand, affects deeper layers—ligaments and muscle fibers. Muscle spasms often occur when a muscle suddenly contracts and "freezes" in one position. Spasms accompany back muscle strains, as the body attempts to immobilize the injured area.
A sprain is a structural injury, while a spasm is a response to pain.
Why it's important not to confuse an injury with a more serious injury
You can't take risks with your spine. A simple complaint of pain can sometimes mask a compression fracture, which in children can occur without any immediate symptoms.
If a child has fallen on their back or landed on it from a height, ointments alone won't help. It's important to ensure that the bones and spinal cord are intact. This requires an in-person examination. During the appointment, the doctor will check reflexes and rule out vertebral damage.