Media Release
Date: 10th February
2015
The New Zealand Chiropractors’ Association
warns parents to be cautious about dismissing their children’s complaints
as ‘growing pains’ and just a
rite of passage, pointing out that the symptoms may indicate more serious
conditions.
NZCA spokesman and chiropractor Dr
Hayden Thomas says: `We should be really clear about this, kids should not have
pain. It so often gets brushed off as just ‘growing pains’ but we
recognise that pain can be a sign of a real developmental or functional
problem, and in some rare occasions a more serious disease process – a clear
signal that all is not well.’
The NZCA warning follows reports
in the UK media about a young woman diagnosed in her teens with
growing pains who actually had an unusual early form of cervical cancer. It is
also timely with the back-to-school burden that heavy backpacks and long
periods of sitting can place on the developing spine and body. Parents of
children under regular chiropractic care report a reduction in ‘growing pains’ and
improvement in function after chiropractic adjustments.1,2
Dr Thomas says: `Parents should
consider taking their child to an NZCA member chiropractor for a check up to
see if something is functionally or structurally amiss. Your chiropractor will
adapt their techniques to suit the age and condition of the patient and may advise
on other factors that can contribute to childhood pains such as hydration,
proper muscular and skeletal development and nutritional deficiencies or
stresses.’
Chiropractors are primary care
providers who are trained to recognise other disease processes and will refer
to the most appropriate healthcare provider if they suspect something more
serious may be occurring.
Growing pains are cramping, achy
muscle leg pains that may start as early as age three or four and may reoccur
aged 8-12. They often occur in the late afternoon or evenings and may cause
children to wake up in the night. They are probably not linked to growth spurts
and appear to be more common after intensive physical activity or sports. They
can be experienced for months or even years but eventually subside.
Dr Thomas says: ‘While it is
unknown why growing pains occur, just because it may be common does not mean it
is normal. Studies suggest that children who have growing pains may be more
sensitive to pain, and more likely to have headaches and abdominal pain.
Chiropractic care, along with home based interventions such as massaging the
legs, stretching the leg muscles and placing a warm cloth or heating pad on the
legs have all been shown to help.1,2,3
`We know that good posture is a key
part of maintaining good spinal health, so we want to encourage New Zealanders
to visit their chiropractor and make sure that everything is aligned and moving
the way it should be. Your family chiropractor will be able to advise you on
ways to improve your posture and ensure you have a healthier spine and a healthier
spine is an important part of improved overall health and wellbeing.’
Dr Hayden Thomas explains: ‘The NZCA recommends having every member of the family
checked by an NZCA chiropractor because regular chiropractic care can help the
spine and nervous system to function at an optimal level, regardless of the
presence or absence of symptoms. Doing the three-minute set of simple exercises
recommended by Straighten Up New Zealand (SUNZ) every day will help improve posture, stabilise core
muscle groups, enhance health and prevent spinal disability. It is also
important to encourage family members to stand or sit correctly and to take
frequent breaks to walk around and stretch if they have been sitting down for a
while. This will help to stop muscles getting tight and strained, joints from
becoming restricted and nerves from becoming compressed, irritated or fatigued.’
Straighten Up New Zealand is a
simple, engaging spinal exercise programme, designed to promote spinal health.
The Straighten Up campaign was originally developed in the US and is now being
adopted by countries all over the world. The NZCA has developed a website to
support the campaign. Remember that is always advisable to have any pain that
is severe or not improving checked out promptly by your chiropractor.
For more information on the
Straighten Up campaign, visit www.straightenup.org.nz. Further
details on the New Zealand Chiropractors’ Association
can be found at www.chiropractic.org.nz.
References:
1 http://icpa4kids.org/Wellness-Articles/growing-pains-and-chiropractic-care/How-Does-Chiropractic-Help.html
3 http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/growing-pains/basics/definition/con-20029782
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