title: Musculoskeletal pain in obese adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of pain, musculoskeletal syndromes, orthopedic disorders and using computers and playing videogames among obese adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study that investigated 100 consecutive obese adolescents and 100 healthy-weight controls using a confidential, self-report questionnaire covering demographic data, sports participation, painful musculoskeletal system symptoms and using computers and playing videogames. The questionnaire's test-retest reliability was tested. Physical examination covered six musculoskeletal syndromes and seven orthopedic disorders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The kappa index for test-retest was 0.724. Pain and musculoskeletal syndromes were equally prevalent in both groups (44 vs. 56%, p = 0.09; 12 vs. 16%, p = 0.541; respectively). Notwithstanding, orthopedic disorders (98 vs. 76%, p = 0.0001), tight quadriceps (89 vs. 44%, p = 0.0001) and genu valgum (87 vs. 24%, p = 0.0001) were significantly more prevalent in obese adolescents than in controls. Median time spent using a computer the day before, on Saturdays and on Sundays were all lower among the obese subjects (30 vs. 60 minutes, p = 0.0001; 1 vs. 60 minutes, p = 0.001; and 0 vs. 30 minutes, p = 0.02; respectively). Obese adolescents were less likely to play handheld videogames (2 vs. 11%, p = 0.003) and there was no difference in the two groups' use of full-sized videogames (p > 0.05). Comparing obese adolescents with pain to those free from pain revealed that pain was more frequent among females (59 vs. 39%, p = 0.048) and was associated with greater median time spent playing on Sundays [0 (0-720) vs. 0 (0-240) minutes, p = 0.028].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obesity can cause osteoarticular system damage at the start of adolescence, particularly to the lower limbs. Programs developed specifically for obese female adolescents with musculoskeletal pain are needed.
authors.affiliation: Unidade de Reumatologia Pediátrica, Instituto da Criança, Hospital das Clínicas (HC), Faculdade de Medicina (FM), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Suely Nóbrega
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Jannini
authors.forename: Ulysses
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dória-Filho
authors.forename: Durval
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Damiani
authors.forename: Clovis Artur Almeida
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Silva
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003201:Computers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013177:Sports / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors; D018910:Video Games / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult