By: Dr. Paracha Children are incredibly resilient and fragile, all at the same time. What may sound like a horrific tumble can sometimes result in a child hopping right back up and continuing on their way. What may be of greater concern to parents is when their child complains of back pain, especially if they’re younger than high school age. Should you be worried if your child says that their back hurts? Children typically have the discomfort of growing pains, but any complaints by your child about having back pain should be taken seriously. It may be a sore muscle from sleeping in an awkward position, which some children tend to do, or from sleeping in a new bed. Temporary aches may be the result of taking a tumble while playing with their friends. If your child continues to experience pain over the course of a day or two, you may want to schedule an appointment with their pediatrician. Older children, specifically high school age, may be experiencing back pain due to athletics and everyday activities. Their bodies are closer to adult ...

By: Dr. James Burke We love seeing kids run, play, and enjoy life with fully healthy bodies. This sometimes means our Orthopedic Associates staff needs to help children with orthopedic conditions get the treatment they need to feel their best. Here are some of the more common orthopedic conditions that we see affecting children today. Bowlegs Bowed legs, a medical condition called genu varum, is a noticeable outward bending of the lower legs starting around the knee region. Many children experiencing bowlegs will naturally grow out of it as toddlers. However, being bowlegged beyond toddler age or being bowlegged in just one leg may be a sign of a more serious condition, such as Blount disease, a growth affecting the top of the tibia bone that can be surgically removed, or rickets. Thankfully, rickets can often be treated by adding more vitamin D and calcium to your child’s diet. Toe walking Many toddlers walk on their toes when first learning to walk. If your child persists with walking on their toes beyond the age three mark, you may want to consult with your pediatrician ...

Kids are resilient! They can come crashing off the playground, stand up, and shake it off like nothing happened. Summer camps can be a great place for kids of all ages to enjoy fun, new friends, and all sorts of exciting activities. Sometimes accidents happen though, and it’s good to know when your child may have experienced a serious joint or bone injury that needs medical attention. Emergency room visits jump by 20% in the months of June, July, and August, many of which happen as a result of injuries sustained at summer camps. (Source) If you think your child might be injured, here are a few steps to help you figure out what to do. Ask for more details from camp staff If your child was involved in a collision or individual accident, camp staff may proactively provide you with details of the incident. However, if the child injured themselves outside their supervision, camp staff may not be aware of the injury. A negligent camp staff makes for a liable camp. It’s worth asking the camp staff if they have any ...

"Happy or sad I think that grandmothers are the wisest, most understanding people in the world (excluding, of course, grandfathers)." -Jane Moore, age 10

 Richard and Helen Exley (Eds.), To Grandma and Grandpa As the Baby Boomer generation shifts into the role of “grandparent”, more and more research is being done on the social, financial, and developmental impact that grandparents have on their grandchildren. In the past, parents were given the majority of the credit for the emotional and physical evolution of their kids, but the increased research indicates that grandparents play an equally important role in early-adult-education.

 Additionally, According to AARP, because of trying economic circumstances and increased military deployment, 2.6 million (up 8% from the previous year) grandparents are the primary caregivers for America’s youth. Even if you are not a primary caregiver, you have the ability to influence your grandchildren’s development beyond what you had initially thought.

 The unfortunate thing is that as Boomers age into the role of “grandma” or “grandpa”, so do their joints. It’s important to keep a pulse on your physical health so you don’t miss ...