OP0336-HPR RISK FACTORS FOR PERSISTENCE AND DEVELOPMENT OF FREQUENT MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN IN ADOLESCENT ATHLETES

Abstract

Background:Physical activity has a positive impact on health, but adolescent athletes often report musculoskeletal pain (MP) which is negative in the aspect of sustaining physical activity over time. There is a lack of longitudinal assessments of MP and potential risk factors, such as timing of physical maturation, in adolescent athletes.Objectives:To identify risk factors associated with the persistence or development of frequent MP at a 2-year follow-up in adolescent sport school students.Methods:Fourteen-year-old sport school students (n=233) were invited to participate in this 2-year longitudinal study. Self-reports of MP was assessed as frequency, distribution, and intensity, and health status by EQ-5D. Physical maturation was calculated by the Mirwald equation (height, weight, and sitting height) (1), and categorized as early (>1 year), average (±1 year), or late (<–1 year). Students were grouped at baseline and follow-up into infrequent (never to monthly) or frequent (weekly to daily) MP groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to study associations between frequent MP at follow-up and baseline variables.Results:131 students (79 boys and 52 girls) were included in the study. Development or persistence of frequent MP at follow-up (n=61) was associated with being a girl, late physical maturation (only boys were categorized as late), non-contact sports participation, frequent MP at baseline, and reporting ≥2 MP sites at baseline. Students with a better health status at baseline were less likely to belong to the frequent MP group at follow-up (Table).Conclusion:Frequent MP is common in sport school students. MP in young athletes may become a future health problem and there is a need for recognition and interventions by coaches and health services to prevent MP from becoming persistent.