Knowledge on health and back care education related to physical activity and exercise in adolescents

• Published in: European spine journal 2016-03, Vol.25 (3), p.755-759
• Main Authors: Miñana-Signes, V., Monfort-Pañego, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Age Factors; Cross-Sectional Studies; Exercise; Female; Health Education; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Low Back Pain - epidemiology; Low Back Pain - etiology; Low Back Pain - prevention & control; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Motor Activity; Neurosurgery; Odds Ratio; Original Article; Prevalence; Spain - epidemiology; Students - psychology; Surgical Orthopedics; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 0940-6719; 1432-0932
• DOI: 10.1007/s00586-015-3953-7

Purpose The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between the specific level of knowledge on health and back care-related physical activity practice and exercise with low back pain (LBP) in adolescents. Methods This is a cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of a total of 576 adolescents aged 13–18 years (mean age 15.5, SD 1.4). Self-reported questionnaires were used to record specific knowledge on health and back care and LBP in healthy adolescents. Results The prevalence of LBP was 46.3 % [95 % confidence interval (CI) 44.9–47.8]. Students with LBP scored slightly higher than non-sufferers, getting non-significant values. The level of specific knowledge increased with age ( F  = 7.308; p  = 0.002). Stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that older girls group (>16 years old) was significantly associated with LBP odds ratio (OR) 2.9 (95 % CI 1.77–4.74; p  = 0.000). Conclusions High school students have a low level of specific knowledge. Back care education in the school curriculum is recommended.