Low back pain in childhood and adolescence phase: consequences, prevalence and risk factors - a revision

Abstract

Low back pain (LBP) has become a growing and serious public health problem in children and adolescents, presenting a relatively high prevalence during school age, representing a significant negative impact, being commonly associated with the demand for health care, medication use, increasing absenteeism and with a decrease in quality of life. Because of that, the presence of LBP can lead to very high economic consequences, both due to direct financial costs and due to absenteeism. Most cases of LBP are due to non-specific causes; however, the role of these risk factors is still controversial. Several factors may be involved in the pathogenesis of LBP, such as physical, genetic, mechanical, behavioural, and environmental factors. The school environment, including the postures adopted by students and the transportation of backpacks, and some lifestyle habits are factors that can also contribute to the development of these musculoskeletal disorder. Against this scenario, it´s necessary to promote intervention actions with the objective of promoting and preventing health, considering that most health problems and risk behaviors, which are associated with the environment and lifestyles modifiable risks, can be minimized, or prevented by increasing health literacy; this intervention actions mus involved not only students but the entire school community.