Exercise reduces the intensity and prevalence of low back pain in 12-13 year old children: a randomised trial.
OBJECTIVE
Does an eight-week exercise program reduce the intensity and prevalence of low back pain in 12-13 year old children? Does it decrease the childhood physical risk factors for low back pain and promote a sense of well-being?


METHODS
Randomised trial with concealed allocation and assessor blinding.


METHODS
Seventy-two 12-13 year old children, who had complained of low back pain in the past three months.


METHODS
The experimental group completed eight exercise classes of 40-45 minutes duration over eight weeks conducted by a physiotherapist, whilst the control group received no intervention.


METHODS
The primary outcome was pain intensity measured on a 10-cm visual analogue scale. Secondary outcomes included 3-month prevalence of pain, childhood physical risk factors for low back pain, and sense of well-being. Measures were taken at baseline (Month 0), post-intervention (Month 3), and three months later (Month 6).


RESULTS
Pain intensity over the past month had decreased by 2.2 cm (95% CI 1.0 to 3.5) more for the experimental group than the control group at Month 3 and was still 2.0 cm (95% CI 0.5 to 3.5) less than the control group at Month 6. The absolute risk reduction for 3-month prevalence in low back pain in the experimental group was 24% (95% CI 4 to 41) compared with the control group at Month 3, and 40% (95% CI 18 to 57) at Month 6. There were also statistically-significant between-group differences in neural mobility.


CONCLUSIONS
Exercise is effective in reducing the intensity and prevalence of low back pain in children.


BACKGROUND
Clinical trials NCT00786864.
Fanucchi
Gina L
GL
Physiotherapy Department, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa. gfanucs@mweb.co.za
Stewart
Aimee
A
Jordaan
Ronél
R
Becker
Piet
P
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010349:Patient Compliance; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index