Low back pain — a significant and increasing problem among children and adolescents. A literature review

In recent years an increasing number of reports are being published which indicate that the occurrence of low back pain is a medical, social and professional issue among young people. Researchers express their concern about the fact that younger and younger generations complain about lower back pain, demonstrating the shift in the time of occurrence of this complaint.

The aim of the study was to analyze the frequency of low back pain incidence among adolescents and young adults and to determine its cause and predisposing factors based on the review of medical literature.

Polish and English-language study reports indicate that approximately 50% of people under 30 complain about low back pain. Additionally, over 60% of young people aged 14–17 admit to have had at least one incident of back pain in their life. One of the main reasons of low back pain among adolescents is a sedentary lifestyle. A number of studies emphasize how spinal diseases, including poor posture, affect the occurrence of lower back pain. Moreover, psychosocial factors are an important point of reference in the evaluation of non-specific lower back pain. Negative and depressive attitude as well as anxiety not only affect the occurrence of such condition at an early age, but also chronic lower back pain in adult life. Feeling of happiness, good sleep and good health are related to lack of complaints about lower back pain. The incidence of low back pain in adolescence is an important predictor of chronic lower back pain in adulthood. Therefore, it is necessary to take preventive measures related to lower back pain from the early school age. Nurses can play an important role in educating not only schoolchildren, but also their families.