# The association between the site of back pain and number of painful sites with daily activities, seeking healthcare, and medication use among school adolescents

## TL;DR

This study finds that back pain in specific areas like the thoracic and low back regions is linked to missed school, reduced physical activity, and increased healthcare use among adolescents.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific spinal regions (thoracic and low back) as significant predictors of functional limitations and healthcare-seeking behavior in adolescents with back pain.

## Key findings

- Thoracic and low back pain are associated with missing school classes and reduced physical activity.
- The number of painful sites increases the likelihood of seeking healthcare and using medication.
- Neck pain was not associated with any of the studied outcomes.

## Abstract

The potential consequences of back pain (BP) are poorly described in adolescents. This study evaluated the association between BP sites (neck, thoracic and low back) and number of painful sites with missed school classes, interference in physical activities, seeking healthcare, and medication use among school adolescents.

This cross-sectional study included 350 students (5th to 9th grade) of a public school in Brazil. Information on BP site and outcomes were self-reported. Logistic regression analyses were performed.

Participants reporting at least one painful site in spine were 74.9% (n = 262), with mean age of 12.73 ± 1.67 (55.7% were girls). Most of them reported pain in two sites (n = 100; 28.6%) and the most frequent pain site was neck (n = 223; 63.7%). Thoracic and low BP were associated with missing school classes, interference in physical activities, seeking healthcare, and medication use, while neck pain showed no association. The number of painful sites was associated with daily activities and healthcare with those gradients increasing with the number of painful sites.

Thoracic and low BP were associated with daily activities, seeking healthcare, and medication use in early adolescence.