HighlightsThe study population shows high prevalence of neck pain.The factors were widowed, income, educational level, sitting posture and diseases.Prevention should emphasize sociodemographic, behavioral, and ergonomic factors.

Objective: To compare men and women with low back pain and identify the prevalence and some of its associated factors in a population-based sample of adults aged 20 and over a seven day period. Methods: Cross-sectional study based on a population survey. 600 individuals were interviewed on the following: (1) characteristics of the participants (i.e. demographic, socioeconomic, and labor aspects); (2) physical activity level (IPAQ); (3) musculoskeletal symptoms (Nordic Questionnaire). Descriptive, bivariate, and Poisson regression analyses were performed. Results: Overall prevalence of LBP was 28.8%, being 39.0% in men and 60.9% in women. The measured associated factors in men were age between 36 and 59 years (PR = 3.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of low back pain in children and its relationship with gender, age, exercise practice and sedentary activities (time on TV and on computer and/or video game). Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study with a sample of 1,461 students, being 754 males and 707 females enrolled in the 5th to 8th grades of all five local elementary schools of urban Ourinhos, SP, Brasil, aged 10-14 years old, from whom sociodemographic data, time spent on sedentary activities such as TV and computer and/or video game were collected. We conducted a descriptive, bivariate and multivariate binary logistic regression. Results: The results showed that the prevalence of low back pain in the sample was 18.5%, being 15.5% in boys and 21.6% in girls. Low back pain was associated to the female gender, age range between 12-14 years and the habit of watching TV more than three times a week and over 3 hours per day. Conclusion: The students analyzed showed high prevalence of low back pain related to gender, age and habit of watching TV. Appropriate interventions should be implemented to reduce the occurrences of back pain in schoolchildren. Level of Evidence III, Cross Sectioning.

ObjectiveTo verify the association among sociodemographic variables, physical activity level and health-related quality of life in adults aged 20 years and over.MethodsPopulation-based study, with household sample by clusters. The dependent variables were the PCS and MCS scores of the instrument 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), the independent variables were gathered in sociodemographic characteristics and the level of physical activity. Absolute and relative frequency distributions were used for categorical variables and bivariate analysis, using Student’s t-test and ANOVA and multivariate using non-conditional logistic regression.ResultsOf the 600 interviewees, the mean PCS score for men was 80.2 and for women 74.6, while for MCS, 83.8 (±16.9) and 76.5 (±23.3), for men and women, respectively. Women tend to report lower scores than men in all domains: men (OR=4.83) and women (OR=4.80) were older (OR=4.34) (OR=3.57) and sedentary women (OR=1.90) were associated with lower PCS scores, while older men (OR=3.96) and widowed and separated’ (OR=3.03) had lower MSC scores.ConclusionHRQoL was associated with advancing age and schooling, in both sexes, sedentary women and widowed and separated men.

Musculoskeletal pain in the shoulder is considered one of the most prevalent causes of pain and disability in adults. To verify the prevalence of shoulder pain and correlated factors in adults aged 20 years or older in cross-sectional study with 600 individuals interviewed through questionnaires: (1) participants characterization; (2) level of physical activity; (3) reported morbidities; and (4) musculoskeletal symptoms. Descriptive, bivariate, and Poisson regression analyses were performed. The prevalence of pain in the shoulder was 24% (CI 20.3%-27.5%). Being 60 years or older (PR=2.14; 1.33-2.45), female (PR=1.92; 1.29-285), using the computer more than three times a week (PR=1.55; 1.01-2.32), working in a sitting position (PR=1.64; 1.03-2.59), standing up leaning the body forward (PR=1.54; 1.00-2.37), and reporting two or more morbidities (PR=3.31; 1.97-5.57) were all indicators of shoulder pain. This study discloses a high prevalence of shoulder pain and a strong relation with women, age, those who use the computer more than three times a week, those who execute occupational activities sitting and standing up leaning the body forward, and those who report two or more diseases.

Introduction: The aging process causes losses that lead to decreased balance, gait speed and functional capacity and, therefore, there is a need of specific protocols to work preventively these variables, which will contribute to the decrease in the frequency of falls in this population. Objective: Verify the effect of a program of multisensory and closed kinetic chain exercises on the functional capacity and balance in elderly women. Methods: Randomized clinical trial masked (blind). Subjects were 32 elderly women from the Centro de Convivência of the Bauru Department of Social Welfare (Secretaria de Bem-Estar Social de Bauru) distributed in two groups: control (CG = 15) and experimental (EG = 17). Interventions: The program of multisensory and closed kinetic chain exercises was applied during an hour, once a week, for 12 weeks. Main measures: Functional capacity was measured by Timed Up and Go (TUG) and the 10-meter walking test (TC10) and their balance by the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Results: Regarding the comparison between the moments M1 and M2 of the EG after the intervention, there was a statistically significant increase in the functional capability (p = 0.00006), walking speed (p = 0.0008) and balance (p = 0.0006). Conclusion: The multisensory and closed kinetic chain-training program indicated a beneficial effect in the improvement of the elderly women balance and functional performance.

Background Insufficient practice of physical activity associated with some factors related to life habits increase the risk of non-transmissible chronic diseases and reduce quality of life. Objective Identify the pattern of physical activity and associated factors in adults aged ≥20 years. Method A cross-sectional, population survey conducted with 600 individuals. Data on demographic, socioeconomic and behavioral aspects, work, and physical activities were collected through home interviews. Descriptive, bivariate and Poisson regression analyses were performed. Results Prevalence of insufficient physical activity was 35.0% (95% CI: 31.2-38.9). Zero to four years of schooling [PR=2.35; 95% CI: 1.07-5.15], working in sitting position [PR=1.52; 95% CI: 1.02-2.48], and number of days at the computer [PR=4.60; 95% CI: 2.38-14.28] remained in the final model for females, whereas 0-4 years [PR=2.30; 95% CI: 1.21-4.06] or 5-8 years [PR=3.70; 95% CI: 0.79-4.00] of schooling, working in sitting position [PR=2.22 95% CI: 1.36-3.62], number of days at the computer [PR=2.04; 95% CI: 1.26-3.32], and number of days of TV viewing [PR=2.12; 95% CI: 1.03-4.36] remained in the final model for males. Conclusion High prevalence of insufficient practice of physical activity is associated with schooling, working in sitting position, and number of days at the computer and TV viewing.

To evaluate the impact of neck pain on quality of life in a population sample of adults aged 20 years or older. Randomized cross-sectional study based on a population survey. A total of 600 individuals were interviewed and the following data were collected: 1. Characteristics of participants (pre-coded questionnaire); 2. Quality of life (SF-36); 3.Musculoskeletal symptoms (Nordic questionnaire); 4. Level of physical activity (IPAC). 20.3% of the individuals (CI 17.3 to 23.7) had reported neck pain at least once in the 12 months preceding the interview. From these, 18.0% (CI 14.0 to 22.7) were men and 22.7% (CI 18.2 to 27.7) were women; subjects with neck pain had significantly worse (lower) scores on all SF-36 subscales than did subjects without pain; females had lower scores as compared to males. Neck pain has a high prevalence in the city of Bauru and the neck pain had a significant association to quality of life.