Low back pain in adolescents and association with sociodemographic factors, electronic devices, physical activity and mental health

Abstract

Objectives

To determine the prevalence of low back pain and to analyze the association with the individual, sociodemographic variables, electronic devices, habitual practice of physical activity, and mental health problems.

Methods

Cross‐sectional study with 1,628 students in public schools in the city of Bauru, SP, Brazil. The following data were collected: 1. demographic and socioeconomic aspects; 2. Use of electronic devices; 3. habitual physical activity level (Baecke); 3. mental health (SDQ). 4. low back pain (Nordic Questionnaire). Descriptive analyzes and bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were used.

Results

The overall prevalence of low back pain was 46.7% (95% CI: 44.27 to 49.11); men showed a prevalence of 42.0% (95% CI: 36.63 to 43.41) and women 58.0% (95% CI: 49.73 to 56.51), a statistically significant difference. The variables associated with pain in the low back region were: female gender (PR = 1.70), daily TV use for more than 3 hours (PR = 1.17), use of laptop computer (PR = 1.40), use of the cell phone in the supine position (PR = 1.23), use of the cell phone in semi‐supine position (PR = 1.49), daily cell phone use for more than 3 hours (PR = 1.36), use of tablet (PR = 1.67), daily tablet use for more than above 3 hours (PR = 1.46), and clinically important mental health problems (PR = 2.62).

Conclusion

There is a high prevalence of low back pain in high school students and striking association with female sex, electronic devices, and mental health problems.