Relationship among impaired functional stability, low back pain and associated factors in children

Problem of research: Musculoskeletal dysfunctions are commonly diagnosed to children and teenagers and have the tendency to grow (Kvikliene & Vilkas, 2004). Epidemiological research show that non-specific low back pain occurs in childhood and incidence increases from 13 to 51 perc. (Jones et al., 2004). According to research, every fifth school-age child is complaining of back pain (Cudre-Maureux et al., 2006). Risk factors for back pain occurrence can be: poor living conditions, biological and social factors, lack of information about low back pain, harmful habits, psychological factors (Mustard et al., 2005), family history (Murphy et al., 2006), but still it isn’t unclear relationship between functional instability and low back pain n children. Object of research: functional instability, low back pain and factors influencing pain in 9-12 years old children. Hypothesis: We think, that those 9-12 years old children should complain with back pain, which have poor functional stability, besides, we think that children’s back pain should be directly related with physical activity, school bag weight and should be a connection between children’s and their parents back pain. Aim of research: to define relationship among impaired functional stability, low back pain and associated factors in 9-12 years old children. Tasks of research: 1. To evaluate children’s functional stability. 2. To determine the prevalence of back pain in children and their parents. 3. To find out factors that can make influence on occurrence of low back pain. Methods: The research was carried out in 2010-2011 years. Height, weight as well as functional stability of 121 child raging in age from 9 to 12 years was assessed using Matthiass test (Cudre-Maureaux et al., 2006). Prevalence of low back pain was assessed using questionnaire. Conclusions: 1. Just one-fifth of the children were diagnosed with functional stability. 2. Back pain was experienced by more than half of the children, the prevalence of pain of their parents was insignificantly higher. 3. Back pain can be influenced by the emergence of a poor functional stability, back pain family history, tiredness during the day as well as too heavy backpack