Exercise reduces the intensity and prevalence of low back pain in 12-13 year old children: a randomised trial.

Fanucchi GL, Stewart A, Jordaan R, Becker P

This study sets out to answer the questions: Does an eight-week exercise program reduce the intensity and prevalence of low back pain in 12-13 year old children? Does it decrease the childhood physical risk factors for low back pain and promote a sense of well-being? Seventy-two 12-13 year old children, who had complained of low back pain in the past three months were part of either the experimental group who completed eight exercise classes of 40-45 minutes duration over eight weeks conducted by a physiotherapist, or the control group who received no intervention. Pain intensity over the past month had decreased by 2.2 cm more for the experimental group than the control group at Month 3 and was still 2.0 cm  less than the control group at Month 6. The absolute risk reduction for 3-month prevalence in low back pain in the experimental group was 24% compared with the control group at Month 3, and 40%at Month 6.

This stusdy shows that exercise is effective in reducing the intensity and prevalence of low back pain in children.

Aust J Physiotherapy, 55(2), 97-104

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