Risk Factors for Low Back Pain in Childhood and Adolescence: A Systematic Review.
Inmaculada Calvo-Muñoz1,2, Francisco M Kovacs2,3, Marta Roqué2,4,5
1Faculty of Health Sciences, Catholic University San Antonio, UCAM, Murcia.
Older age and competitive sports participation are linked to low back pain (LBP) in children and adolescents. Further research should explore backpack use and chronic pain factors.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Musculoskeletal Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Low back pain (LBP) is increasingly prevalent in children and adolescents.
- Identifying associated risk factors is crucial for targeted prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and identify factors associated with low back pain (LBP) in pediatric populations.
- To synthesize evidence from observational studies on LBP risk factors in individuals aged 9 to 16.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review of 13 electronic databases and 8 specialized journals was performed.
- Included studies involved participants aged 9-16 with a minimum of 50 participants.
- Methodological quality was assessed, and a sensitivity analysis included high-quality studies with adjusted confounders and larger sample sizes (≥500).
Main Results:
- 61 studies with 137,877 participants were reviewed, assessing 35 potential risk factors.
- Inconsistent associations were found for most factors; however, older age and competitive sports participation showed a consistent link to LBP in the sensitivity analysis.
- The prevalence of LBP ranged from 15.25% (point prevalence) to 38.98% (lifetime prevalence).
Conclusions:
- Older age and participation in competitive sports are consistently associated with low back pain in children and adolescents.
- Future research should investigate muscle characteristics, backpack weight dynamics, and factors contributing to chronic pain in this age group.
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