At Oahu Spine & Rehab, we see a significant number of patients under the age of 18. Many of our other patients often ask “Why do young adults need to see a chiropractor?” There are many benefits of taking your teenager to see a chiropractor that range from improved posture and self-esteem, developing a healthy lifestyle to, of course, reduction of pain and treatment of injuries. This is why we are happy to offer chiropractic care on Oahu for teenagers.
In fact, a recent study in the BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, found that neck pain, middle back pain and lower back pain often start well before the age of 18 and increase during adolescent years. The study noted that 86% of the participants had spinal pain before the age of 11. The study also showed that and that over any 2 year period prior to the age of 18, 40-46% of kids have some degree of spinal pain. Young children are often involved in youth sports where minor injuries commonly occur.
Obviously, these findings strongly support the need for chiropractic treatment for young adults. As chiropractors in Oahu, we also know that it is important and beneficial for a healthy example to be set by parents. Eating healthy and exercising are important lifestyle habits to develop in our children. Regular visits to the chiropractor can also be part of a healthy lifestyle we can impress upon our children.
Teenage years can be a very dangerous time as young men and women tend to make some rather questionable choices during this period of their lives. A recent study in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine found that at least half of all high school students consume alcohol. Another study in the same publication found that over 2.1 million teens in the U.S. abuse prescription drugs annually, with Vicodin and OxyContin the most commonly abused.
In a typical chiropractic or physical medicine practice, many of our patients are athletes who are either injured or develop pain from participating in their sport. At OSR we like to plan a course of treatment for your pain management that will benefit your health the most. These treatments are typically treated in a conservative, drug-free manner.
Unfortunately, many times parents simply take their high school athletes to their primary care providers who will just prescribe some type of pain or anti-inflammatory medication as temporary relief. This process can lead to drug and alcohol abuse and eventually contribute to an unhealthy lifestyle.
As parents, you can make the choice to take your child to a doctor who will simply prescribe medication, or to a comprehensive health-care center that offers healthier options such as chiropractic treatment, physical therapy, massage therapy and/or acupuncture. Here at OSR we are happy to help your teens get their bodies back to 100%.
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