title: Pain characteristics of adolescent spinal pain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although adolescent spinal pain increases the risk for chronic back pain in adulthood, most adolescents can be regarded as healthy. The aim of the present study was to provide data on localization, intensity and frequency of adolescent spinal pain and to investigate which physical and psycho-social parameters predict these pain characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  On the occasion of Spine Day, an annual event where children and adolescents are examined by chiropractors on a voluntary basis for back problems, 412 adolescents (10 to 16 years) were tested (by questionnaire and physical examination). Pain characteristics (localization, intensity, and frequency) were identified and evaluated using descriptive statistics. Regression analyses were performed to investigate possible influencing psycho-social and physical influence factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adolescents who suffered from pain in more than one spinal area reported higher pain intensity and frequency than those with pain in only one spinal area. Sleep disorders were a significant predictor for pain in more than one spinal area (p < 0.01) as well as a trend for frequent pain (p = 0.06). Adolescents with frequent pain showed impaired balance on one leg standing with closed eyes (p = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Studies on adolescent spinal pain should report data on pain frequency, intensity and localization. Adolescents who present with pain in more than one spinal area or report frequent pain should be followed carefully. Reduced balance with visual deprivation might be a physical indicator of a serious back problem.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Movement Sciences and Sport, ETH Zurich, Wolfgang Pauli Str. 27, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland. brigitte.wirth@balgrist.ch.|Chiropractic Department, University of Zurich and University Hospital Balgrist, Forchstr. 340, 8008, Zurich, Switzerland. brigitte.wirth@balgrist.ch.
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wirth
authors.affiliation: Chiropractic Department, University of Zurich and University Hospital Balgrist, Forchstr. 340, 8008, Zurich, Switzerland. kim.humphreys@balgrist.ch.
authors.forename: B Kim
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Humphreys
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001416:Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires