Is back pain during childhood or adolescence associated with muscle strength, muscle endurance or aerobic capacity: three systematic literature reviews with one meta-analysis.

Arnaud Lardon,Christine Le Scanff,Charlotte Leboeuf-Yde

doi:10.1186/s12998-015-0065-8

Abstract

BackgroundBack pain is a common condition during childhood and adolescence. The causes of back pain are largely unknown but it seems plausible that some physical factors such as back muscle strength, back muscle endurance and aerobic capacity may play a role in its development, in particular in the early years.ObjectivesThe objectives of this review were to investigate in childhood and adolescence 1) if muscular strength in trunk extension is associated with back pain, 2) if muscular endurance in trunk extension is associated with back pain and 3) if aerobic capacity is associated with back pain.DesignThree systematic critical literature reviews with one meta-analysis.MethodsSystematic searches were made in June 2014 in PubMed, Embase and SportDiscus including longitudinal, retrospective or cross-sectional studies on back pain for subjects <20 years. Articles were accepted if they were written in French or English. The review process followed the AMSTAR recommendations. The possibility of conducting a meta-analysis was assessed for each research question.ResultsFour articles were included for the first objective, four for the second and three for the last. None of the included articles found an association between back muscle strength in extension and back pain. For the second objective, a protective association between back muscle endurance in extension and back pain was found, later confirmed in a meta-analysis (OR = 0.75, 95 % CI 0.58-0.98). The association between aerobic capacity and back pain is not clear.ConclusionsHigh back muscle endurance in extension appears protective of back pain in youngsters, but the roles of high back muscle strength in extension and aerobic capacity are less clear.

Highlights

Back pain is a common condition during childhood and adolescence
None of the included articles found an association between back muscle strength in extension and back pain
High back muscle endurance in extension appears protective of back pain in youngsters, but the roles of high back muscle strength in extension and aerobic capacity are less clear

Summary

Introduction

Back pain is a common condition during childhood and adolescence. The causes of back pain are largely unknown but it seems plausible that some physical factors such as back muscle strength, back muscle endurance and aerobic capacity may play a role in its development, in particular in the early years. Pain is relatively common in childhood and adolescence [1]. In a population of circa 3000 adolescents, 61 % reported musculoskeletal pain at least in one area [2]. BP is common during childhood and has been shown to be a predictor of low back pain (LBP) in adulthood [3]. It is well known that physical activity has a positive effect on health [4] by decreasing adiposity and improving cardiovascular health, cardiovascular fitness, mental health, academic performance, musculoskeletal health, fitness and bone mineral density [5]. It seems likely that physical activity, through its positive influence on back

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Conclusion