None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Children report episodes of low back pain as young as 9/10 years old. There are no confirmed risk factors for low back pain in children. However, we know that the most important predictor of an episode of low back pain is a history of low back pain. We have compelling evidence that exercise is helpful in reducing recurrence for adults with a history of low back pain. We wish to test the hypothesis that if we regularly perform controlled spinal movements and increase attention to and awareness of the low back we can reduce the chances of future low back pain. This study will investigate: 1.Whether a short daily routine of spinal movements reduces the prevalence of first episode low back pain in children aged 8-11years. 2.Whether children aged 8-11years can develop regular exercise habits and adhere to a brief daily exercise routine. 3.Reasons for non adherence where this occurs.
Interventions
The effect of a spinal movement program taught to children in schools and repeated daily at home. The children are taught 4 simple spinal exercises that are completed in standing and take approximately 2 minutes. Additionally the children are given information about back care. The children are taught the exercises in school on day 0 of the study. Baseline data about previous and current low back pian episodes are collected from children at day 0. The children subsequently receive 6 school visit
The effect of a spinal movement program taught to children in schools and repeated daily at home. The children are taught 4 simple spinal exercises that are completed in standing and take approximately 2 minutes. Additionally the children are given information about back care. The children are taught the exercises in school on day 0 of the study. Baseline data about previous and current low back pian episodes are collected from children at day 0. The children subsequently receive 6 school visits each lasting 15 minutes over the following 10 months. The exercises are reviewed at each visit to encourage the children to do the exercises in a standardised way. They are encouraged to repeat them daily at home preferably while cleaning their teeth. Following each visit (within 10 days of the visit), the children complete an on-line survey to report low back pain episodes and exercise adherence.
Sponsors
Julia Hill
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Prevention
Masking
Blinded (masking used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
8 Years to 11 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Consenting children aged 8 to 11 years who attend a primary school in the North Shore region of Auckland, New Zealand. Children are included if they can follow simple instructions and complete a child friendly survey, and whose parents approve their participation.
Exclusion criteria
Children who are not able to do the exercises due to spinal pathologies and/or neurological disorders, injuries or physical disabilities that prevent the child from standing on one leg safely and independently.
Outcome results
None listed