Spine day 2012: spinal pain in Swiss school children– epidemiology and risk factors

Abstract

BackgroundThe key to a better understanding of the immense problem of spinal pain seems to be to investigate its development in adolescents. Based on the data of Spine Day 2012 (an annual action day where Swiss school children were examined by chiropractors on a voluntary basis for back problems), the aim of the present study was to gain systematic epidemiologic data on adolescent spinal pain in Switzerland and to explore risk factors per gender and per spinal area.MethodData (questionnaires and physical examinations) of 836 school children were descriptively analyzed for prevalence, recurrence and severity of spinal pain. Of those, 434 data sets were included in risk factor analysis. Using logistic regression analysis, psycho-social parameters (presence of parental back pain, parental smoking, media consumption, type of school bag) and physical parameters (trunk symmetry, posture, mobility, coordination, BMI) were analyzed per gender and per spinal area.ResultsPrevalence of spinal pain was higher for female gender in all areas apart from the neck. With age, a steep increase in prevalence was observed for low back pain (LBP) and for multiple pain sites. The increasing impact of spinal pain on quality of life with age was reflected in an increase in recurrence, but not in severity of spinal pain. Besides age and gender, parental back pain (Odds ratio (OR)=3.26, p=0.011) and trunk asymmetry (OR=3.36, p=0.027) emerged as risk factors for spinal pain in girls. Parental smoking seemed to increase the risk for both genders (boys: OR=2.39, p=0.020; girls: OR=2.19, p=0.051). Risk factor analysis per spinal area resulted in trunk asymmetry as risk factor for LBP (OR=3.15, p=0.015), while parental smoking increased the risk for thoracic spinal pain (TSP) (OR=2.83, p=0.036) and neck pain (OR=2.23, p=0.038). The risk for TSP was further enhanced by a higher BMI (OR=1.15, p=0.027).ConclusionThis study supports the view of adolescent spinal pain as a bio-psycho-social problem that should be investigated per spinal area, age and gender. The role of trunk asymmetry and passive smoking as risk factors as well as the association between BMI and TSP should be further investigated, preferably in prospective studies.

Sitting Posture, Sagittal Spinal Curvatures and Back Pain in 8 to 12-Year-Old Children from the Region of Murcia (Spain): ISQUIOS Programme

“…The percentages of back pain in the current study are in agreement with what is found in the literature for this age range [48,65,74,78]. Although, it should be considered that there are only a small number of studies that analyze the prevalence of back pain in schoolchildren aged 10 years or younger.…”

Low back pain in adolescents. An assessment of the quality of life in terms of qualitative and quantitative pain variables

“…The results of this study suggest that the individual facets of the quality of life were evaluated differently by both female and male respondents in comparison to the control group. It supports Wirth's view [27]. The difference observed in the responses of girls and boys may be due to a different level of sensitivity to health issues shown by boys and girls, girls' lower self-esteem and more attention paid to appearance, security and finances, although these are speculations only.…”

Pain and Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity in Adolescence: An International Population-Based Survey

“…In adolescence, physical and mental health, as well as school performance and quality of life can be affected by pain [2,[8][9][10][11][12]. Studies that have assessed functional status via questionnaires have found that pain can also impair activities of daily functioning [13][14][15].…”