Juozas Raistenskis, Romualdas Sinkevičius, Lina Varnienė, Judita Doveikienė
Abstract
The aim of the study was to evaluate lifetime prevalence of back pain (BP) in Lithuanian children, and back pain associations with physical development factors.
Methods: The study included 103 children (54 girls and 49 boys) from 7 to 17 years old, with mean age 12,78±2,58 years. The children answered the question about back pain. Measures of anthropometric factors, trunk muscles endurance, body posture and balance were performed.
Results: The lifetime prevalence of back pain is large – 67,1%. The lifetime prevalence rates increase steadily with age: in the age of 7-11 years – 41,9%, 12-14 years – 62,8%, 15-17 years – 85,7% (chi2=12,06, p=0,002). Body mass index (BMI) was from 12,65 kg/m2 to 30,53 kg/m2, mean 19,57±3,40 kg/m2. Anthropometric factors had no associations with BP after adjusting for age. Trunk muscles endurance: abdominal flexors – 54,92±51,83 s, back extensors – 77,49±39,91 s, right side – 34,85±18,91 s, left side – 36,04±21,46 s, ratio of flexors and extensors – 0,74±0,51, ratio of right or left side and extensors – 0,52±0,33, ratio between right and left sides – 1,20±1,05. Age had positive relationship to trunk muscles endurance in all groups. After the age influence was excluded, we did not find associations between trunk muscle endurance and BP. Bad body posture had 3 (2,9%) children, satisfactory – 39 (37,9%), good – 45 (43,7%), excellent – only 16 (15,5%) children. Bigger trunk muscles endurance had positive influence on better posture. We found no associations between posture and BP. Results of the Flamingo test were from 1 to 16 attempts, mean 5,48±4,63. Bigger trunk muscles endurance had positive influence on better static balance. We found no associations between static balance and BP.
Conclusions: The lifetime prevalence of back pain is large, the lifetime prevalence rates increase steadily with age. Trunk muscles endurance ratios differ from recommended. More than one third of children had satisfactory or bad posture. Most disorders appeared in the following segments: shoulder girdle, neck and upper spine. Balance was rated 7,29 points from 10. Balance was influenced by trunk muscles endurance. Anthropometric factors, trunk muscles endurance, posture, balance had no associations with back pain in children.
Article in Lithuanian
doi:10.5200/sm-hs.2012.042
Keyword(s): children; back pain; physical development; trunk muscles endurance; posture; balance
DOI: 10.5200/283
Full Text: PDF