Risk factors for nonspecific low-back pain in chinese adolescents: a case-control study
Pain Medicine, 04/13/2012

Yao WG et al. – Family history, feeling schoolbag uncomfortable, duration of schoolbag carrying, basketball playing and rest position between classes are the major risk factors for nonspecific low–back pain (LBP) in adolescents.

• A 1:1 matched case–control study was conducted on 1,214 adolescents from an elementary school and a secondary school in Guangzhou City, southern China.

• Family history (odds ratio [OR] 2.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.85–3.58), long duration of carrying schoolbag (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.11–1.72) and rest position between classes (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.01–1.39) were positively correlated with self–reported nonspecific LBP.
• Students regularly playing basketball (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.09–2.30) was found to be significantly more likely to have LBP.
• Also, students who feel schoolbag uncomfortable (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.11–1.72) was found to experience more LBP.