Acute low back pain in high school adolescents in Southern Brazil: prevalence and associated factors.

Onofrio, Antonio Carlos; da Silva, Marcelo Cozzensa; Domingues, Marlos Rodrigues; Rombaldi, Airton José · Eur Spine J · 2012

cross_sectional · Level IV

Where this comes from

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of acute low back pain (ALBP) and associated factors in high school students from a Southern Brazilian city. The study was cross-sectional and interviewed 1,233 students 13- to 19-year-olds, attending high schools. A total of 25 schools were included in the sample (15 state institutions, 7 private, 2 federal and 1 municipal). The ALBP was evaluated using two questions. The outcome was LBP in the previous 30 days. The prevalence of ALBP was 13.7%. Non-white students, who commuted to school walking, showed a higher prevalence of ALBP. The prevalence of ALBP is relatively high. Further studies with follow-ups to adulthood are needed to investigate whether physical cumulative loads on the lumbar spine (for example, duration/transport, school bags and inadequate school furniture) during adolescence, may influence the development of ALBP later in life.

Medical subject headings