Back pain prevalence in adolescent athletes

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Pediatric Sports Medicine
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Back pain (BP) is a common issue in athletes, but its prevalence in young athletes requires further investigation.
• Understanding BP prevalence in adolescent athletes is crucial for developing targeted prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of back pain in a large cohort of young athletes.
• To analyze BP prevalence concerning age, gender, and specific sport disciplines.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 2116 young athletes (mean age 13.3 years) reported on back pain experienced within the last 7 days using a face scale.
• Athletes were categorized by age, gender, and four sport types: combat, game, explosive strength, and endurance sports.
• Descriptive analysis and 95% confidence intervals were used to assess prevalence rates.

Main Results:

• Overall, 8% of athletes reported back pain.
• Prevalence was similar between genders (9% females, 7% males).
• BP prevalence increased from 2-4% in 11-13 year olds to 12-20% in 14-17 year olds.
• Prevalence varied by sport, ranging from 3% in soccer to 14% in canoeing. Sports like weight lifting and judo showed ≥10% prevalence.

Conclusions:

• Back pain is uncommon in adolescent athletes and does not differ significantly by gender.
• A notable increase in BP prevalence is observed after age 14.
• Sport-specific prevention programs integrated into training routines are recommended to address varying BP prevalence across disciplines.