Acute low back pain in high school adolescents in Southern Brazil: prevalence and associated factors

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of acute low back pain (ALBP) and associated factors in high school students from a Southern Brazilian city. The study was cross-sectional and interviewed 1,233 students 13- to 19-year-olds, attending high schools. A total of 25 schools were included in the sample (15 state institutions, 7 private, 2 federal and 1 municipal). The ALBP was evaluated using two questions. The outcome was LBP in the previous 30 days. The prevalence of ALBP was 13.7%. Non-white students, who commuted to school walking, showed a higher prevalence of ALBP. The prevalence of ALBP is relatively high. Further studies with follow-ups to adulthood are needed to investigate whether physical cumulative loads on the lumbar spine (for example, duration/transport, school bags and inadequate school furniture) during adolescence, may influence the development of ALBP later in life.