title: Validation of a new instrument for evaluating low back pain in the young athlete.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To validate a back-specific instrument for functional assessment in the young athlete for clinical and research purposes, the Micheli Functional Scale (MFS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort study, Diagnostic Level II.
  
  
  METHODS
  Division of Sports Medicine Clinic, Children's Hospital Boston.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male and female patients aged 12 to 22 with and without low back pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients presenting with back pain were compared with a control group of patients presenting with complaints other than back pain. Both groups were given the modified Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire (ODQ) and MFS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Micheli Functional Scale and ODQ score correlations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 94 patients were enrolled (44 patients with low back pain and 50 patients without low back pain). Ages ranged from 12 to 22 for both groups, with no differences in age (P = 0.07) or gender (P = 0.50). Patients with back pain had significantly higher ODQ scores (median, 32 points) and MFS scores (median, 47 points) compared with controls (median, 0 points; P < 0.0001). These results held for male and female patients and younger (12-16.99 years) and older (17-22 years) age groups. The Pearson correlation coefficient showed a high positive correlation between MFS scores and ODQ scores (Pearson r = 0.90, P < 0.0001). Cronbach level indicated excellent item reliability on the MFS (α = 0.904, P < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MFS is a valid instrument for assessing pain and functional levels in the young athlete. This scale considers pain, athletic function, and athletic disability.
authors.affiliation: Division of Sports Medicine, Children's Hospital, Boston, 319 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA. pierre.dhemecourt@childrens.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Pierre Allou
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: dʼHemecourt
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zurakowski
authors.forename: Charles Allou
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: dʼHemecourt
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Curtis
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ugrinow
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Deriu
authors.forename: Lyle Joseph
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Micheli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D056352:Athletes; D054874:Athletic Performance; D002648:Child; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult