Affiliations: [a] China Institute of Sport Science, Beijing, China | [b] National Institute of Education Sciences, Beijing, China | [c] Guangxi College of Sports and Physical Education, Guangxi, China
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Qiang Feng, China Institute of Sport Science, No. 11, Tiyuguan Road, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China. Tel.: +86 18601060514; E-mail:fengqiang@ciss.cn
Abstract: CONTEXT: Non-specific back pain has become a public health problem affecting
adolescent health. OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationships between abnormalities in spinal morphology and
non-specific back pain among adolescents. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Junior and senior high schools. PATIENTS: Participants were screened using a questionnaire regarding back pain.
Students in the pain group (n= 273, 121 boys and 152 girls) reported
experiencing upper and/or lower back pain within the previous month, and
those who did not report pain were assigned to the group without pain
(n= 127, 63 boys and 64 girls). Participants who had experienced acute upper
and/or lower back injuries within the previous month or received a
definitive diagnose of disease were excluded. METHODS: The SpinalMouse® was used to measure the thoracic kyphosis
angle (TKA), lumbar lordosis angle (LLA), sacrum/hip angle (SA), and incline
angle (INA) in both the standing position and sitting position. The
SpinalMouse® also was used to measure the sacral, thoracic,
and lumbar range of motion (ROM) in the fully flexed position and fully
extended position in the sagittal plane. The thoracic and lumbar ROM in
left/right lateral flexion was recorded. The Matthiass test was used to
assess changes in the measured angles upon loading. RESULTS: Among junior high school students, 47.0% of boys and 53% of girls had
an abnormal TKA. Among senior high school students, 52.6% of boys and
46.99% of girls had an abnormal TKA. The incidence of LLA abnormality was
significantly higher among junior high boys than girls (p< 0.05), as was the
incidence of hypolordosis (p< 0.05). Significantly fewer senior high boys
than girls had a normal LLA value (p< 0.05). An excessive TKA (p< 0.05, odds
ratio = 1.236) and limited lumbar ROM (p< 0.01, odds ratio = 0.975) were
correlated with back pain in adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: The incidences of TKA and LLA abnormality are high among Chinese
adolescents, and an excessive TKA and insufficient total lumbar ROM may be
risk factors for non-specific back pain in adolescents.
