“Why Does My Back Hurt? I’m Not Even Old…”

If your neck feels stiff, your shoulders ache, or your back hurts after school — you’re not imagining it.

At BodyRight Physiotherapy in Drogheda, we see lots of teenagers who say the same thing: “I didn’t fall.” “I didn’t pull anything.” “So why does it hurt?”

The answer is often posture — and it has nothing to do with being lazy or doing something “wrong”.

Why Teens Get Back and Neck Pain

Your body is growing fast. Bones can lengthen quicker than muscles can adapt, especially during growth spurts. At the same time, most teens spend hours:

• Sitting in school

• Studying on beds or sofas

• Using phones, tablets, or laptops

• Gaming or scrolling with a rounded back

When this adds up, muscles work harder than they should, joints get stiff, and pain can show up — even if you’re active and sporty.

Common signs include:

• Neck or shoulder pain

• Upper or lower back pain

• Headaches

• Feeling stiff when you stand up

• Tired or sore muscles

Pain isn’t something you should “just live with”, even at your age.

What’s Actually Happening Inside Your Body?

When you sit slouched or lean forward for long periods:

• Neck muscles become overworked

• Core muscles weaken

• The spine loses its natural balance

• Tight muscles pull on joints

Over time, your body adapts to these positions — and that’s when pain becomes more frequent.

The good news is: your body is very good at learning better movement when it’s shown how.

How Physiotherapy Helps Teens

At BodyRight Physiotherapy Clinic in Drogheda, we don’t just tell you to “sit up straight”.

We explain:

• Why your pain is happening

• What muscles need support

• How small changes make a big difference

A teen physiotherapy session might include:

• A posture and movement check

• Simple strength and flexibility tests

• Easy exercises that actually fit your day

• Tips for studying, gaming, and phone use

No pressure. No lectures. Just practical help that makes sense.

Will I Have to Do Loads of Exercises?

No.

Most teens are given short, simple exercises that:

• Take only a few minutes

• Don’t need equipment

• Fit around school and sport

• Actually help you feel better

The aim isn’t perfection — it’s comfort, confidence, and moving without pain.

When Should You Get Checked?

You might want to see a physiotherapist if:

• Your back or neck hurts most days

• You get headaches linked to sitting or studying

• Pain affects school, sport, or sleep

• You feel stiff all the time

• You’re growing fast and things just feel “off”

Getting help early can stop small problems becoming long-term ones.

BodyRight Physiotherapy, Drogheda

At BodyRight Physiotherapy Clinic, our Chartered Physiotherapists help teens move better, feel stronger, and understand their bodies — without judgement.

Whether you’re studying, gaming, training, or just growing fast, we’re here to help you stay pain-free.

Book a Teen Physiotherapy Assessment

Back pain isn’t something you have to wait out.

If something doesn’t feel right, talk to your parent and book an assessment at BodyRight Physiotherapy in Drogheda.

 The sooner you understand what’s going on, the easier it is to fix.