Abstract
Background: Studies relating physical activity (PA), back extensor muscles endurance (BEME) to the risk for low-back pain (LBP) in adolescents are scanty. This study examined the association of PA and BEME with risk of LBP in school-aged adolescents. Method: Six hundred and twenty five secondary school students aged between 10 to 19 years volunteered for this study, and underwent the modified Biering-Sorensen test of Static Muscular Endurance (BSME). An adapted LBP questionnaire was used to assess for LBP and PA level. Descriptive and inferential analyses were used to analyze data. Significance was set at 0.05 α- level. Results: The 12-month and point prevalence of LBP were 49.4% and 11.2% respectively. The relative risks [odd ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI)] of developing LBP among those that had poor compared with those with moderate and good BEME were (OR 0.52; CI 0.21–0.82) and (OR 0.97; CI 0.48–1.96) respectively. The OR and 95% CI of developing LBP among those that had low PA compared with those with moderate and good PA level were (OR 0.72; CI 0.43–1.23) and (OR 0.55; CI 0.23–1.29) respectively. The joint associations of PA and BEME with LBP was not significant (p>0.05). Chi square result indicated that BEME was significantly (X2 = 11.499; p = 0.003) associated with LBP independent of PA level. Conclusions: Poor BEME and low PA independently increased the risk of LBP by approximately one time but did not have a synchronous association with one another as it relates to developing LBP in adolescents.
Published Version
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