Back Pain and Knowledge of Back Care Related to Physical Activity in 12 to 17 Year Old Adolescents from the Region of Murcia (Spain)

Abstract

Knowledge on back care is important to prevent back problems. The purpose of this study was to a) describe back pain and knowledge on back care related to physical activity in adolescents and b) determine the association between these two factors. This was a cross-sectional study. A total of 276 students (aged from 12 to 17 years old), from three Spanish public secondary schools, had to complete a survey about back pain and another one about their knowledge on back care related to physical activity. The results showed a mean score of 2.54 ± 1.85 (out of 10), and 90.58% of students failed the knowledge test. Those who suffered from back pain in the week before scored higher (2.91 ± 1.66) than non-sufferers (2.42 ± 1.90), with statistically significant differences (Z = −2.109; p = 0.035; r = 0.127), although with no academically relevant differences. Finally, despite the relationship between a higher mean score in the knowledge test and back pain within the previous week, it has been found that there was not a significant association because most of the students got very low scores in the knowledge test. It also shows an important lack of knowledge about physical activity for back care in adolescents.

Knowledge of Low Back Pain among Primary School Teachers

“…In any case, differences were not significant, and both groups’ mean score was low (less than 5). These results are consistent with the findings of other studies that used COSACUES, where participants with LBP had slightly higher scores than those who never suffered it [ 32 , 33 ].…”

“…For this reason, we consider that the scores obtained are extremely low considering that we are talking about teachers, some of whom are physical education teachers. Two recent studies carried out among secondary education students from Spain, one with participants aged 12 and 13 years, obtained a final score of 2.22 [ 34 ], and the other one, with participants aged 12–17 years, scored 2.54 [ 33 ]. Both results confirm the low knowledge of postural education that exists in the general population, and more specifically among adolescents.…”

Sitting Posture, Sagittal Spinal Curvatures and Back Pain in 8 to 12-Year-Old Children from the Region of Murcia (Spain): ISQUIOS Programme

“…An ad-hoc questionnaire composed of 8 questions and based on previous studies was employed to describe BP prevalence in schoolchildren [46][47][48][49].…”

Back-Health-Related Physical Activity and Exercise Knowledge in Adolescents

“…The levels were so low that only 10.9% of students passed the specific knowledge test, achieving a gradeequal or superior to 5, similar to another study (45). However, a total of 70 students filled in the test, achieving a grade equal or superior to "good".…”

“…Concerning the items, we can say that students have sufficient knowledge related to contents concerning physical qualities, frequency of exercise per week, the proper execution of lumbar Agreeing with our results, most of the assessments carried out on students concerning levels of knowledge about back health were found to be very low before the implementation of the intervention program (11-13, 15, 19, 21, 23, 28, 51, 52). Related to this, the results of studies that examined the level of knowledge in the field of physical education and health, also drew attention to the low level attained by students, not approaching the minimum level of proficiency in knowledge and understanding (45,53). The results reinforce what Tellez stated (54) when he called attention to the fact that "students generally completely lack basic knowledge about the theory of the subject matter".…”