Abstract
Background: Most available data on the prevalence and characteristics of back pain in schoolchildren is related to industrialised and developed countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) and potential risk factors among schoolchildren and adolescents in a developing country, Iran.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1611 Iranian schoolchildren aged 11–14 years. A self-complete questionnaire was used to assess LBP prevalence, physical leisure activities, school-related and psychosocial factors.Results: The prevalence of LBP was 34.3%. Female gender (odds ratio [OR] = 1.57, 95% CI:1.28–1.94), family member with back pain (OR = 1.82, 95% CI: 1.40–2.36), difficulty in viewing the (black)board (OR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.13–1.99), too much homework (OR = 1.47, 95% CI:1.09–1.99), time spend carrying a schoolbag (min/d) (OR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.01–1.85), and psychosocial factors (emotional symptoms) (OR = 2.28, 95% CI: 1.54–3.39) were independently associated with LBP. Physical activity, having a job, watching television, using a computer, playing games and schoolbag weight had no effect.Conclusion: It can be concluded that both physical and psychosocial factors influenced the risk for LBP, but emotional symptoms had a stronger association with LBP than physical factors. Knowledge about LBP in school children and adolescents could be important in assessment and treatment of such symptoms in this population.
Highlights
Recent evidence has demonstrated that low back pain (LBP) is frequent among schoolchildren and youth.[1,2,3,4] The reported incidence of back pain in schoolchildren and youth ranges from 7% to 74% in the literature.[5,6] Evidence suggests that back pain in childhood and adolescence is a contributory factor for the increased incidence of such complaints in adulthood.[7,8] there appears to be a need to improve the understanding of the risk factors associated with back pain among children and adolescents.A number of factors may contribute to the development of musculoskeletal complaints in schoolchildren
Physical activity and leisure time physical activity and schoolbag weight were not associated with LBP
With regard to the psychosocial factors, the results of the present study showed that the presence of emotional symptoms was independently positively associated with the prevalence of LBP in Iranian schoolchildren
Summary
Recent evidence has demonstrated that low back pain (LBP) is frequent among schoolchildren and youth.[1,2,3,4] The reported incidence of back pain in schoolchildren and youth ranges from 7% to 74% in the literature.[5,6] Evidence suggests that back pain in childhood and adolescence is a contributory factor for the increased incidence of such complaints in adulthood.[7,8] there appears to be a need to improve the understanding of the risk factors associated with back pain among children and adolescents.A number of factors may contribute to the development of musculoskeletal complaints in schoolchildren. The risk and protective factors of back pain in children and adolescents can be divided into individual, physical and psychosocial factors.[2,3,4,9] Design of classroom furniture seems to be one of the contributing factors to the development of musculoskeletal pain among schoolchildren.[4,9,10] Though not conclusive, there is some evidence that loads carried by schoolchildren (schoolbag or backpack carriage) may be a factor contributing to musculoskeletal complaints among this age group.[6,11,12,13] There are contradictory findings in the literature regarding the association between musculoskeletal symptoms and physical leisure activity and life style factors (i.e. playing sport, watching TV, using a computer, etc.) in schoolchildren with some studies showing a positive association,[9] while other show no association.[4] Some studies have noted a significant association between musculoskeletal symptoms and psychosocial factors.[2,3,4,9,14]. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) and potential risk factors among schoolchildren and adolescents in a developing country, Iran. Knowledge about LBP in school children and adolescents could be important in assessment and treatment of such symptoms in this population
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