my son back and ribs are constantly bothering him. he is 10 years old. its been hurting him for awhile now. what could it be?

Hi Anonymous,

The vast majority of back pain problems in children are related to soft tissue damage (such as muscles, ligaments and tendons), which is often caused by overuse or strain.

Older children tend to be more aggressive in their activities and sports, thereby increasing the risk of injury to the bones, nerves and soft tissues in the spine. Even their heavy backpacks can cause pain. Other more serious and less common causes include: tumors and infections.

However, because pack pain is much more common in adults than it is in children, it is important that you schedule an appointment with his doctor.

Keep us posted,

Rosa