Objective: To estimate the prevalence, incidence, and prognosis of back pain in children and adolescents.
Design: Prospective cohort study.
Methods: We followed children and adolescents between the ages of 8 and 18 years with and without back pain over 12 months (3, 6, and 12 months) from public and private schools. At baseline, parents (or guardians) answered questionnaires including sociodemographic characteristics and perception of sleep quality of their children and adolescents. Children and adolescents answered questionnaires including sociodemographic characteristics, presence of back pain, pain intensity, quality of life, and psychosomatic symptoms. At follow-up, children and adolescents answered questions about the presence of back pain.
Results: Six hundred fifteen children and adolescents were included, 163 of whom had back pain and 452 of whom had no back pain at baseline. The mean age of participants was 11.6 years (SD = 2.5), and the majority were female (n = 362; 59%). The 1-month prevalence of back pain was 26% (95% confidence interval: 23%-30%). The incidence rate of back pain was 35% (31%-40%) over 12 months. Of the 163 participants who had back pain at baseline, 83% had recovered by 12 months. Of those who recovered within 6 months, 31% had a recurrence of back pain at the 12-month follow-up.
Conclusion: Two to 3 in every 10 children and adolescents reported back pain in the last month. New cases of back pain were reported by 3-4 in every 10 children and adolescents for a period of 12 months. Nearly all children recover within 12 months, but recurrence seems to be common. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2022;52(8):554-562. Epub: 19 June 2022. doi:10.2519/jospt.2022.10819.
Keywords: back pain; children and adolescents; incidence; musculoskeletal pain; prevalence; prognosis.