“Is it safe to do physical therapy before being diagnosed?”
My son is 10 years old, and has lower back pain. This pain has been around for at least a month. We want him to go to physical therapy, since I think it's from his posture. Do you think it's okay for him to do physical without being officially diagnosed with something?
1 Answer
I would take him to either a pediatric clinical specialist in pediatric physical therapy or to a pediatric orthopedist and request a hip screening among other things. Hip dysplasia or femoral anteversion can cause hip external range of motion limitations that have the potential to cause back pain. When one joint has limited mobility ( a patho mechanic) that movement has to happen somewhere else and often its the low back. Ive seen it before in young gymnasts, reoccurring back pain treated by PT bringing temporary relief, but it always returns because the root cause is being missed. That is only one of a list of differential diagnosis for pediatric back pain. Yes, get it evaluated and get a diagnosis so you dont waste important time health care resources Your son is a has a developing musculoskeletal system. Hes not a small adult. It is critical you seek care from someone with clinical knowledge of developmental orthopedics Kind regards Joan E Baldwin PT PCS Board Certified Clinical Specialist In Pediatric Physical Therapy.
