Exercise for Low Back Pain in Children

Not Applicable

Completed

Brief Summary: This study aimed to determine the efficacy of an eight-week specific exercise programme in reducing self-reported episodes and intensity of LBP, as well as modifying some of the identified risk factors for LBP, in children.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Exclusion Criteria

Serious spinal pathologies or deformities (e.g. severe scoliosis, spinal tumours)
Neurological conditions which alter motor tone
Physical disabilities (e.g. spinal cord injuries) which prevent the child from being able to stand up on their own without an orthotic device or brace, or which prevent the child from taking part in normal physical education (PE) classes
Any other serious co-morbidities (e.g. cancer, severe lung pathology)
Provincial sports participants, or children who were currently following a specific training programme with a biokineticist or physiotherapist
Current orthopaedic procedures or fractures of the spine, pelvis, lower or upper limbs

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
1. Experimental Group	exercise programme	Exercise Intervention Group

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Low Back Pain Prevalence	3 months post-intervention	All of the children complained of low back pain at baseline. Low back pain prevalence post-intervention was determined by the number of children still complaining of low back pain post-intervention.
Low Back Pain Intensity	3 months post-intervention	The visual analogue scale (standardised 100mm, non-hatched line) was used to determine pain intensity. Scores can range between 0 and 10, with the worst possible pain/score = 10 and no pain/best score = 0. Visual analogue scale is continuous.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Neural Mobility	3 months post-intervention	Straight leg raise test was used to measure neural mobility. The amount of hip flexion (angle between the plinth and femur of the raised leg) was measured using a digital inclinometer. Scores ranged between 3 (worst score) and 90.5 (best score). Continuous data.
Hamstring Flexibility	3 months post-intervention	Standardised hamstring muscle length test. The child was positioned in supine, with the hip flexed at 90 degrees. The knee was then extended passively. The angle of knee extension \[from horizontal plane (level to plinth) to fibula\] was measured using a digital inclinometer. Continuous data. Scores ranged from -20 (worst score) to 82 (best score).

Locations (1): Government primary schools in the Ekurhuleni West and Johannesburg East Districts of Gauteng
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Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa