The epidemiology of male adolescent low back pain in a north suburban population of Melbourne, Australia.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) in an Australian metropolitan, male adolescent population.

DESIGN

Self-reported, pretested questionnaire that included a definition of LBP and a description of the body area it affects.

SETTING

Three government operated secondary schools in a growth corridor of north suburban Melbourne, Australia.

SUBJECTS

Six hundred ten males attending secondary (high) school, aged between 12 and 19 yr.

INTERVENTION

None.

MAIN OBSERVATIONS

The point prevalence of LBP was found to be 16.7% and the sample prevalence 57%. The typical sufferer of adolescent LBP (ALBP) reported chronic LBP experienced up to a few days at a time, several times a month.

CONCLUSIONS

The high prevalence of ALBP found by studies in other populations is confirmed in Australia. There is a clear need for further study of the etiology and potential preventative factors of ALBP, and for consideration of whether nontraumatic occupational LBP results more from an aggravation of a preexisting (adolescent) condition than from an unsafe or unsuitable work environment.