|
Abstract from the SRS 2001 Annual Meeting
G. Sheir-Neiss, Ph.D.1
R. Kruse, D.O.1
T. Rahman, Ph.D.1
L. Jacobson, Sc.D.2
J. Pelli, M.S.1 1A.I. duPont Hospital, Wilmington, DE, 2Johns Hopkins University,
Baltimore, MD, USA INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of nonspecific back pain increases
dramatically during adolescence from ‹ 10% in preteens up to 50% in 15-16 year-olds.
The purpose of this ongoing longitudinal prospective study is to investigate the
relationship between backpack use and back pain in adolescents. METHODS: 817 children
between the ages of 12-17 participated in this study by completing a questionnaire
about their health (including scales from the Child Health Questionnaire), activities,
and backpack use. Measurements of children's height, weight, and backpack weight
were obtained. For the purpose of this study, a child was classified as having
back pain in the past 4 weeks if one or more were reported: ·Neck/back pain that
interfered with school or leisure and rated pain great than or equal to 2
(scale=0-10) ·A visit to
a doctor/therapist for neck/back pain ·Excused from physical education/sports
because of neck/back pain Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess
the significance of factors associated with back pain while simultaneously adjusting
for other variables in the model. RESULTS: 76.3% of 682 children analyzed to date
were classified as having back pain, validated by having significantly poorer
general health, more limitations in performing physical activities and more bodily
pain, as assessed by the CHQ. Compared to low or no use of backpacks during the
school day, moderate use (odds ratio=1.9, p=0.012) and high use (odds ratio=3.2,
p ‹ 0.0001) were associated with back pain. Female gender and greater body mass
index also were significantly (p ‹ 0.001) associated with back pain. Statistically
significant associations were not found between back pain and backpack weight
or between back pain and the ratio of backpack weight to body weight. CONCLUSION:
Statistically significant associations were found between back pain and backpack
use, female gender, body mass index, general health, physical functioning, and
bodily pain. Statistically significant associations were not found between back
pain and backpack weight or between back pain and the ratio of backpack weight
to body weight. Further study is ongoing to delineate the role of backpack usage
in children's back pain.
|
