Relationship between impaired functional stability and back pain in children: an exploratory cross-sectional study.
OBJECTIVE
On surveys, about every fifth child in the school age reports back pain. There is a dearth of literature on the association between functional stability and back pain in children.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the association between functional stability, measured with the Matthiasstest, and "back pain during the last week".


METHODS
We used data from a cross-sectional survey on third, fourth and fifth grade school-years (128 children aged between 8 and 12 years) in seven different classes in two different rural regions of Switzerland, to evaluate in an explorative manner the association between the score of the Matthiass-test and low back pain and upper back pain in the last week with two multivariable logistic regressions.


RESULTS
The Matthiass-test score, controlled for age, sex and language region of the school, was significantly associated with low back pain in the last week (adjusted odds ratio 1.77 with an 95% confidence interval from 1.08 to 2.91) and non significantly with the upper back pain in the last week (adjusted odds ratio 1.67 with an 95% confidence interval from 0.98 to 2.81).


CONCLUSIONS
The Matthiass-test score is associated with low back pain. Because of the exploratory character of this study, these results should be regarded with caution. Whether a high score on the Matthiass-test could be a risk factor for back pain should be evaluated in prospective studies.
Cudré-Mauroux
Nicole
N
University of Applied Sciences Valais, Domain Health and Social Work, Sion, Switzerland.
Kocher
Nicole
N
Bonfils
Raphaëlle
R
Pirlet
Marielle
M
Meichtry
André
A
Hilfiker
Roger
R
D001416:Back Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D010808:Physical Examination; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D012424:Rural Population; D013131:Spine / Q000503:physiopathology*