Article,
Back Education Efficacy in Elementary Schoolchildren: A 1-Year Follow-Up Study
Spine, 27 (3): 299-305 (February 2002)
Abstract
Study Design. A control group-designed 1-year
follow-up study involving 9 to 11-year-old
schoolchildren who followed back education. Objectives.
To evaluate the efficacy of a back education program,
consisting of six sessions of 1 hour each, in
elementary school. Summary of Background Data. In
surveys among children and teenagers during the past
few years, as many as half of all children in a
community report a history of low back pain. Although
several authors advocate the implementation of back
education in elementary school, no guidelines exist and
little is known about the efficacy of such a program.
Methods. A total of 198 children (subjected to back
education) and 165 controls performed a practical test,
evaluating the use of back care principles while
sitting, taking off shoes, picking up a pen, and
handling a load and a book bag. Post-tests were
performed within 1 week after the intervention, after 3
months, and after 1 year. The week prevalence of back
and neck pain was evaluated at these test moments in
extended samples of intervention children (n = 347) and
controls (n = 349). To evaluate habit changes, a
limited group of intervention pupils (n = 38) and
controls (n = 31) was additionally evaluated in a
candid camera observation at the last post-test.
Results. At all post-tests intervention pupils scored
significantly higher (P < 0.001) than controls for all
practical test items. Candid camera evaluation scores
were higher in the intervention group sample compared
with the control group sample for four of the eight
evaluated items. Following back education significantly
decreased the week prevalence of back and neck pain.
Conclusions. Back education in elementary
schoolchildren is efficacious up to 1 year. The role of
early back education in preventing back pain at the
adult age merits further attention.
