Evidence- based Management Options for Nonspecific Musculoskeletal Pain in Schoolchildren

Abstract

Introduction: Children of school age (8-15 years) have a significant prevalence of non-specific musculoskeletal pain (from 11 to 38%, in our country as much as 48%), which represents a neglected public health problem without adequate preventive interventions. Health workers have little empirical evidence to support their clinical practice in deciding on intervention measures and treating this pain. Aim: The aim of this review article is to expand knowledge of the management of nonspecific musculoskeletal pain in school children based on the evidence. Material and Methods: The systematic review of literature was carried out at Biomed Central, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases in search of relevant evidence supporting the research goal. Results: A total of 564 publications were reviewed and 523 were considered irrelevant. The remaining 47 publications were assessed as potentially relevant, and among them 39 did not meet the criteria for inclusion and exclusion. Therefore, 9 publications met the necessary criteria for further analysis. Conclusion: There is little evidence to create an integrative program of intervention measures and treatment of musculoskeletal pain in school children. Based on scarce number of proofs shown in this research, no conclusive solutions have been reached, necessitating a need for further research.