Good question! Sitting for long periods in an ill-fitting seat has already been linked with back pain in young children. Take your child with you when shopping. Have him or her sit in the desk.

When the child sits as far back as possible, is the thigh in contact with the seat of the chair? Does the seat press into the back of his or her knees (if yes, it may be too big).
Is at least half (or more) of the thigh supported? If no, it may be too small.

Keeping balance is a complex task. It relies on a system called the postural control system. This involves the inner ear, the eyes, the muscles, and the brain. If the
ankle is injured it can lose its ability to sense the joint's position in space. A delayed response to a shift off-balance can result in a loss of balance.

The growth plate is made up of growing bone and a cap of cartilage at the end. When the bone stops growing, the cartilage ossifies or becomes the end of the bone. At maturity when the bones stop growing, the growth plate disappears.

Spondylolisthesisis a condition of the spine with slippage of one vertebra forward over the one below it. The most common site for this problem is in the lower lumbar spine, often the last lumbar vertebra.

If he isn't complaining of shoulder pain, it's probably nothing to worry about. Children, especially boys before puberty, often have this. It's most likely caused by an under developed muscle called the serratus anterior (SA). The SA is attached to the scapula (shoulder blade) and comes around the ribcage under the armpit. It attaches to the sides of the first eight or nine ribs.

It depends. If the doctor has already taken measurements and found a scoliosis (curvature of the spine), then an X-ray is the next step before deciding treatment.

There are some ways to assess and measure normal curves in the spine. These methods can be used to measure abnormal curves as well. The first is a device called a scoliometer. Another is a kyphometer. Both of these are placed on the spine
and give a reading or measure of the different spinal curves.

Books, calculators, cell phones and other electronic devices, sports equipment, water bottles, and other personal items. That's probably just a partial list of what most students haul around with them everyday.

A large study of students in Greece reports the carrying method doesn't make a difference in the amount or kind of back pain students experience. They suggest age, height, and gender are the key factors.

Girls nearing puberty have the highest amount of back pain. Shorter children carry more of a load compared to taller children of the same age carrying the same weight. Adding sports to the picture seems to increase the number of students who suffer from back pain.

X-ray is the number one tool for determining skeletal maturity. In children and some teens, there are growth plates (physes) at the ends of bones that aren't fused
solid yet. This allows for bone growth and expansion. The physes are visible on X-ray as dark areas called radiolucency.

He will probably miss the entire season either way. If the surgery is done, rehab takes several more months after recovery. It's best to listen to your doctor's advice. Studies
show that if the growth plate is disturbed, deformities, fractures, and stunted growth of the limb can occur.