Research Study Addresses Teen Back Pain
DJD, MRIs and Increase risk of Upper & Mid Back Pain in Young People
A high quality study of 600 subjects experiencing teen back pain (including 152 identical and 148 fraternal sets of twins) found degenerative findings on MRI were a risk factor for severe upper back pain or mid back pain in teens and young people. The findings suggested structural and degenerative findings play a greater role in severe upper or mid back pain than for back pain complaints in general. However, the authors were careful to note that as in low back pain, Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) does not indicate the presence of pain.
Posterior spurring and anterior disc bulging were the strongest risk indicators, with greater DJD at a younger age showing increased risk of severe or disabling upper or mid back pain.
My Takeaway: Degeneration affects motion, not moving predisposes teens to back pain, and not being active enough during the teenage years will further increases the likelihood of more pain with age.
