According to new research[1] adolescent back pain may predict poor overall health, and risk of chronic disease
throughout life. The New Zealand Chiropractors’ Association (NZCA) is concerned that chiropractic care is an underused
option in the management of back pain and spinal health among New Zealand teenagers, and believe it could minimise the
unnecessary use of pharmaceuticals[2] and help establish a better foundation for adult wellbeing.
Chiropractor and NZCA spokesperson Dr Cassandra Fairest explains: `This new study in the Journal of Public Health
indicates that adolescents who experience back pain more frequently are also more likely to smoke cigarettes, drink
alcohol, and report mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. But too few of them are seeking chiropractic
care, which was recently cited in a major call to action by the Lancet as a drug free approach to the management of back
pain’.
`The authors of this study point out that during adolescence, the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in general,
particularly back pain, rises steeply. Although often dismissed as trivial and fleeting, adolescent back pain is
responsible for substantial health care usage, school absence, and interferes with day-to-day activities in some
children.’
Researchers used data collected from approximately 6500 teenagers. The proportion of participants reporting smoking,
drinking, and missing school rose incrementally with increasing frequency of pain. For example, 14-15 year olds that
experienced pain more than once a week were 2-3 times more likely to have drunk alcohol or smoked tobacco in the past
month than those who rarely or never had pain.
Similarly, students that experienced back pain more than once a week were around twice as likely to have missed school
during the previous school term. The trend with anxiety and depression was less clear, although there was a marked
difference between the children who reported no pain, and those who reported frequent pain.
Dr Fairest says: `The researchers found that back pain and unhealthy behaviours not only occur together, but also
persist into adulthood. In addition, the developing brain is susceptible to the negative influences of toxic substances,
and use in early adolescence may increase the risk of substance abuse and mental health problems in later life.’
The Lancet, one of the world’s most prestigious medical publications, has said in a series of articles that healthcare
system changes are crucial to changing behaviour and improving the delivery of effective care for back pain. It
recommends integrating and supporting health professionals from diverse disciplines to provide patients with consistent
messages about mechanisms, causes, prognosis and natural history of low back pain, as well as the benefits of improved
spinal health, physical activity and exercise. Chiropractic is ideally placed to play a pivotal role in this
development.
Dr Fairest says: `We do have to ask ourselves why some New Zealanders are still being prescribed pain medication which
may cause side effects when chiropractic care may be just as, or even more effective, and offer better long term
outcomes? Chiropractors are uniquely placed to provide care that specifically focuses on the health of the spine and the
relationship between the spine and the nervous system, both of which are clearly relevant to this population’s
presentations. It seems that there’s a disconnect between patient choices and evidence-based guidelines for low back
pain based upon what is actually happening within our healthcare system. It appears GP’s are encouraging people to rely
on medication and are only considering chiropractic care after pharmaceutical treatments have failed instead of making a
referral to a chiropractor a first-line treatment option, as per the research.’
New Zealand’s chiropractors are taking the lead to inform, and inspire people to prevent pain and disability by
educating the public to have a greater understanding of the relationship between their spine and nervous system,
improving their posture, addressing and preventing spinal problems, and engaging in physical activity.