Pain Smart Education research output

Hestbæk, L.; Kamper, S. J.; Hartvigsen, J.; Falch-Joergensen, A. C.

Motor skills at 7 years of age and spinal pain at 11 years of age: a cohort study of 26,000 preadolescents Journal Article

In: Eur J Pediatr, vol. 182, no. 6, pp. 2843–2853, 2023, ISSN: 1432-1076.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Back Pain, Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health

@article{Hestbæk2023,

title = {Motor skills at 7 years of age and spinal pain at 11 years of age: a cohort study of 26,000 preadolescents},

author = {L. Hestbæk and S. J. Kamper and J. Hartvigsen and A. C. Falch-Joergensen},

url = {https://painsmart-education.sydney.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Motor-skills-at-7-years-of-age-and-spinal-pain-at-11-years-of-age-a-cohort-study-of-26000-preadolescents.pdf, PDF},

doi = {10.1007/s00431-023-04964-8},

issn = {1432-1076},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-06-00},

urldate = {2023-06-00},

journal = {Eur J Pediatr},

volume = {182},

number = {6},

pages = {2843--2853},

publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},

abstract = {<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>This study aims to investigate the relationship between motor skills at age 7 and spinal pain at age 11. The study included participants from the Danish National Birth Cohort. Data on motor skills were obtained from the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire, completed by the mothers when the children were 7 years old, and spinal pain was self-reported at age 11 for frequency and intensity of neck, mid back, and low back pain. This was categorized into “no,” “moderate,” or “severe” pain, based on frequency and pain intensity. Associations were estimated using multinomial logistic regression models. Data on both motor skills and spinal pain was available for 25,000 children. There was a consistent pattern of reporting more neck or mid back pain at age 11 for those with lower levels of fine motor skills and coordination scores at age 11. The relationship was significant for severe pain (the highest relative risk ratio being 1.87 and the lowest 1.18), but not for moderate pain (the highest relative risk ratio being 1.22 and the lowest 1.07). Gross motor skills were not associated with spinal pain, and there was no relationship between low back pain and motor skills.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:italic>  Conclusion</jats:italic>: Our results indicate a link between motor development at 7 years of age and neck and mid back pain, but not low back pain, at 11 years of age. Improvement of motor skills in young children might reduce the future burden of neck and mid back pain and should be a target of future research.

<jats:table-wrap><jats:table><jats:tbody>

                    <jats:tr>

                      <jats:td align="left"><jats:bold>What is Known:</jats:bold></jats:td>

                    </jats:tr>

                    <jats:tr>

                      <jats:td align="left">• <jats:italic>Spinal pain in preadolescence and adolescence is common and 

predisposes to spinal pain in adulthood.</jats:italic></jats:td>

                    </jats:tr>

                    <jats:tr>

                      <jats:td align="left">• <jats:italic>Motor skills influence the biomechanics of movement and therefore has a 

potential impact on musculoskeletal health.</jats:italic></jats:td>

                    </jats:tr>

                    <jats:tr>

                      <jats:td align="left"><jats:bold>What is New:</jats:bold></jats:td>

                    </jats:tr>

                    <jats:tr>

                      <jats:td align="left">• <jats:italic>Poor fine motor- and coordination skills in childhood were associated with increased risk of severe neck- or mid back pain, but not low back pain, four 4 years later.</jats:italic></jats:td>

                    </jats:tr>

                    <jats:tr>

                      <jats:td align="left">• <jats:italic>Poor gross motor skills were not associated with higher risk of later spinal pain.</jats:italic></jats:td>

                    </jats:tr>

                  </jats:tbody></jats:table></jats:table-wrap></jats:p>},

keywords = {Back Pain, Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

Close

AbstractThis study aims to investigate the relationship between motor skills at age 7 and spinal pain at age 11. The study included participants from the Danish National Birth Cohort. Data on motor skills were obtained from the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire, completed by the mothers when the children were 7 years old, and spinal pain was self-reported at age 11 for frequency and intensity of neck, mid back, and low back pain. This was categorized into “no,” “moderate,” or “severe” pain, based on frequency and pain intensity. Associations were estimated using multinomial logistic regression models. Data on both motor skills and spinal pain was available for 25,000 children. There was a consistent pattern of reporting more neck or mid back pain at age 11 for those with lower levels of fine motor skills and coordination scores at age 11. The relationship was significant for severe pain (the highest relative risk ratio being 1.87 and the lowest 1.18), but not for moderate pain (the highest relative risk ratio being 1.22 and the lowest 1.07). Gross motor skills were not associated with spinal pain, and there was no relationship between low back pain and motor skills. Conclusion: Our results indicate a link between motor development at 7 years of age and neck and mid back pain, but not low back pain, at 11 years of age. Improvement of motor skills in young children might reduce the future burden of neck and mid back pain and should be a target of future research.

What is Known:

• Spinal pain in preadolescence and adolescence is common and
predisposes to spinal pain in adulthood.

• Motor skills influence the biomechanics of movement and therefore has a
potential impact on musculoskeletal health.

What is New:

• Poor fine motor- and coordination skills in childhood were associated with increased risk of severe neck- or mid back pain, but not low back pain, four 4 years later.

• Poor gross motor skills were not associated with higher risk of later spinal pain.

Close

Hauber, Sara D.; Robinson, Katie; Kirby, Edward; Kamper, Steven; Lennox, Noirin Nealon; O'Sullivan, Kieran

Describing the nonsurgical, nonpharmacological interventions offered to adolescents with persistent back pain in randomized trials: A scoping review Journal Article

In: European Journal of Pain, vol. 27, no. 4, pp. 459–475, 2023, ISSN: 1532-2149.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Back Pain

@article{Hauber2023,

title = {Describing the nonsurgical, nonpharmacological interventions offered to adolescents with persistent back pain in randomized trials: A scoping review},

author = {Sara D. Hauber and Katie Robinson and Edward Kirby and Steven Kamper and Noirin Nealon Lennox and Kieran O'Sullivan},

url = {https://painsmart-education.sydney.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Describing-the-Non-Surgical-Non-Pharmacological-Interventions-Offered-to-Adolescents-with-Persistent-Back-Pain-in-Randomized-Trials-A-Scoping-Review.pdf, PDF},

doi = {10.1002/ejp.2073},

issn = {1532-2149},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-04-00},

urldate = {2023-04-00},

journal = {European Journal of Pain},

volume = {27},

number = {4},

pages = {459--475},

publisher = {Wiley},

abstract = {<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Background and Objectives</jats:title><jats:p>Persistent nonspecific back pain is now established as a biopsychosocial phenomenon that can be meaningfully affected by individuals' cognitions, emotions, lifestyle factors and family and social relationships. Recent guidelines for the treatment of adolescents with persistent nonspecific back pain, as well as those for youth with mixed chronic pain, strongly recommend interdisciplinary care in which adolescents receive treatment for both mind and body. The objective of this scoping review was to examine the interventions evaluated in randomized trials for adolescents with persistent back pain to determine whether they correspond to these guidelines and to reveal future research priorities.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Databases and data treatment</jats:title><jats:p>The review protocol was registered in March 2022. We followed the PRISMA guidelines for scoping reviews. Twelve electronic databases were searched for relevant study reports. Data were charted on study characteristics, participant characteristics and intervention details using the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklist.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>The search yielded 1952 records, of which eight reports representing seven randomized trials were eligible. The most common interventions were exercise therapy (<jats:italic>n =</jats:italic> 6) and back education (<jats:italic>n</jats:italic> = 4). Five studies employed multiple intervention components, but none was multidisciplinary. Studies primarily targeted posture or biomechanical factors. One study included an intervention addressing participants' fears and beliefs about pain.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title><jats:p>Randomized trials for adolescents with persistent back pain have primarily relied upon an outdated, biomechanical explanation of persisting pain. Future randomized trials should align with current treatment recommendations and measure outcomes across multiple biopsychosocial domains.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Significance</jats:title><jats:p>This scoping review describes in detail the interventions included in randomized trials for adolescents with persistent, nonspecific back pain. The review is important because it reveals discrepancies between those interventions and the interventions recommended for this population.</jats:p></jats:sec>},

keywords = {Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Back Pain},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

Close

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesPersistent nonspecific back pain is now established as a biopsychosocial phenomenon that can be meaningfully affected by individuals' cognitions, emotions, lifestyle factors and family and social relationships. Recent guidelines for the treatment of adolescents with persistent nonspecific back pain, as well as those for youth with mixed chronic pain, strongly recommend interdisciplinary care in which adolescents receive treatment for both mind and body. The objective of this scoping review was to examine the interventions evaluated in randomized trials for adolescents with persistent back pain to determine whether they correspond to these guidelines and to reveal future research priorities.Databases and data treatmentThe review protocol was registered in March 2022. We followed the PRISMA guidelines for scoping reviews. Twelve electronic databases were searched for relevant study reports. Data were charted on study characteristics, participant characteristics and intervention details using the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklist.ResultsThe search yielded 1952 records, of which eight reports representing seven randomized trials were eligible. The most common interventions were exercise therapy (n = 6) and back education (n = 4). Five studies employed multiple intervention components, but none was multidisciplinary. Studies primarily targeted posture or biomechanical factors. One study included an intervention addressing participants' fears and beliefs about pain.ConclusionsRandomized trials for adolescents with persistent back pain have primarily relied upon an outdated, biomechanical explanation of persisting pain. Future randomized trials should align with current treatment recommendations and measure outcomes across multiple biopsychosocial domains.SignificanceThis scoping review describes in detail the interventions included in randomized trials for adolescents with persistent, nonspecific back pain. The review is important because it reveals discrepancies between those interventions and the interventions recommended for this population.

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Santos, Veronica Souza; Leite, Mariana Nascimento; Camargo, Barbara Isabel Aparecida; Saragiotto, Bruno T.; Kamper, Steven J.; Yamato, Tiê P.

Three in Every 10 School-aged Children in Brazil Report Back Pain in Any Given Year: 12-Month Prospective Cohort Study of Prevalence, Incidence, and Prognosis Journal Article

In: Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, vol. 52, no. 8, pp. 554–562, 2022, ISSN: 1938-1344.

Links | BibTeX | Tags: Back Pain, General Medicine, Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation

Leite, Mariana N.; Kamper, Steven J.; Broderick, Carolyn; Yamato, Tié P.

What Works When Treating Children and Adolescents With Low Back Pain? Journal Article

In: Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, vol. 52, no. 7, pp. 419–424, 2022, ISSN: 1938-1344.

Links | BibTeX | Tags: Back Pain, General Medicine, Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation

Dario, Amabile Borges; Kamper, Steven James; Williams, Christopher; Straker, Leon; O’Sullivan, Peter; Schütze, Robert; Smith, Anne

Psychological distress in early childhood and the risk of adolescent spinal pain with impact Journal Article

In: European Journal of Pain, vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 522–530, 2022, ISSN: 1532-2149.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Back Pain

@article{Dario2021,

title = {Psychological distress in early childhood and the risk of adolescent spinal pain with impact},

author = {Amabile Borges Dario and Steven James Kamper and Christopher Williams and Leon Straker and Peter O’Sullivan and Robert Schütze and Anne Smith},

url = {https://painsmart-education.sydney.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Psychological-distress-in-early-childhood-and-the-risk-of-adolescent-spinal-pain-with-impact.pdf, PDF},

doi = {10.1002/ejp.1878},

issn = {1532-2149},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-02-00},

urldate = {2022-02-00},

journal = {European Journal of Pain},

volume = {26},

number = {2},

pages = {522--530},

publisher = {Wiley},

abstract = {<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Background</jats:title><jats:p>Spinal pain (SP), including neck and back pain, is common and often associated with poor mental health and reduced quality of life of adolescents. Contemporary understanding of SP favours a biopsychosocial approach, and emerging evidence suggests the stronger influence of psychological rather than other factors.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Objectives</jats:title><jats:p>We aimed to investigate if experiencing psychological distress in early childhood increases the risk of spinal pain with impact during adolescence.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>1175 adolescents from a prospective cohort study (Raine Study Gen2) were included. Psychological distress was assessed at ages 2, 5, 8 and 10 using Child Behaviour Check List (CBCL). CBCL total and subscale scores (internalizing and externalizing symptoms) were converted to age‐standardized scores and dichotomized according to t‐scores (>60=high distress). Life‐time spinal pain, including low back, mid back, or neck/shoulder, was measured at age 17. We were interested in adolescent SP with impact (care seeking, medication use, school absenteeism, daily activity interference, leisure activity interference) and defined cases as SP with impact (one or more) or greater impact (two or more) impacts. We investigated the longitudinal associations between childhood psychological distress and adolescent SP using univariate and multivariable logistic regression models.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>Psychological distress in childhood increased the odds of adolescent SP with impact by 33% (OR 1.33; 95% CI 1.01–1.76), but not spinal pain with greater impact (OR 1.22; 95% 0.83–1.80). Internalizing symptoms were associated with SP with greater impact and externalizing symptoms with SP with impact after adjusting for a range of potential child and family confounders.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title><jats:p>Psychological distress in childhood increases the risk of SP with impact in adolescence and may be a promising prevention target.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Significance</jats:title><jats:p>Our findings provide evidence that psychological distress early in life is an independent risk factor for spinal pain with impact during adolescence. As psychological distress during childhood is potentially modifiable, it may be a promising target for research on the prevention of consequential spinal pain in adolescence. Identifying and addressing psychological distress in children may be an important component of best practice to reduce consequential spinal pain in adolescents.</jats:p></jats:sec>},

keywords = {Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Back Pain},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

Close

AbstractBackgroundSpinal pain (SP), including neck and back pain, is common and often associated with poor mental health and reduced quality of life of adolescents. Contemporary understanding of SP favours a biopsychosocial approach, and emerging evidence suggests the stronger influence of psychological rather than other factors.ObjectivesWe aimed to investigate if experiencing psychological distress in early childhood increases the risk of spinal pain with impact during adolescence.Methods1175 adolescents from a prospective cohort study (Raine Study Gen2) were included. Psychological distress was assessed at ages 2, 5, 8 and 10 using Child Behaviour Check List (CBCL). CBCL total and subscale scores (internalizing and externalizing symptoms) were converted to age‐standardized scores and dichotomized according to t‐scores (>60=high distress). Life‐time spinal pain, including low back, mid back, or neck/shoulder, was measured at age 17. We were interested in adolescent SP with impact (care seeking, medication use, school absenteeism, daily activity interference, leisure activity interference) and defined cases as SP with impact (one or more) or greater impact (two or more) impacts. We investigated the longitudinal associations between childhood psychological distress and adolescent SP using univariate and multivariable logistic regression models.ResultsPsychological distress in childhood increased the odds of adolescent SP with impact by 33% (OR 1.33; 95% CI 1.01–1.76), but not spinal pain with greater impact (OR 1.22; 95% 0.83–1.80). Internalizing symptoms were associated with SP with greater impact and externalizing symptoms with SP with impact after adjusting for a range of potential child and family confounders.ConclusionPsychological distress in childhood increases the risk of SP with impact in adolescence and may be a promising prevention target.SignificanceOur findings provide evidence that psychological distress early in life is an independent risk factor for spinal pain with impact during adolescence. As psychological distress during childhood is potentially modifiable, it may be a promising target for research on the prevention of consequential spinal pain in adolescence. Identifying and addressing psychological distress in children may be an important component of best practice to reduce consequential spinal pain in adolescents.

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Montgomery, Laura R. C.; Kamper, Steven J.; Hartvigsen, Jan; French, Simon D.; Hestbaek, Lise; Troelsen, Jens; Swain, Michael S.

Exceeding 2-h sedentary time per day is not associated with moderate to severe spinal pain in 11- to 13-year-olds: a cross-sectional analysis Journal Article

In: Eur J Pediatr, vol. 181, no. 2, pp. 653–659, 2022, ISSN: 1432-1076.

Links | BibTeX | Tags: Back Pain, Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health

Kamper, S J; Michaleff, Z A; Campbell, P; Dunn, K M; Yamato, T P; Hodder, R K; Wiggers, J; Williams, C M

Back pain, mental health and substance use are associated in adolescents Journal Article

In: vol. 41, no. 3, pp. 487–493, 2019, ISSN: 1741-3850.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Back Pain, Environmental and Occupational Health, General Medicine, Public Health

@article{Kamper2019,

title = {Back pain, mental health and substance use are associated in adolescents},

author = {S J Kamper and Z A Michaleff and P Campbell and K M Dunn and T P Yamato and R K Hodder and J Wiggers and C M Williams},

url = {https://painsmart-education.sydney.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Back-pain-mental-health-and-substance-use-are-associated-in-adolescents.pdf, PDF},

doi = {10.1093/pubmed/fdy129},

issn = {1741-3850},

year  = {2019},

date = {2019-09-30},

urldate = {2019-09-30},

volume = {41},

number = {3},

pages = {487--493},

publisher = {Oxford University Press (OUP)},

abstract = {<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title>

               <jats:sec>

                  <jats:title>Background</jats:title>

                  <jats:p>During adolescence, prevalence of pain and health risk factors such as smoking, alcohol use and poor mental health all rise sharply. The aim of this study was to describe the relationship between back pain and health risk factors in adolescents.</jats:p>

               </jats:sec>

               <jats:sec>

                  <jats:title>Methods</jats:title>

                  <jats:p>Cross-sectional data from the Healthy Schools Healthy Futures study, and the Australian Child Wellbeing Project was used, mean age: 14–15 years. Children were stratified according to back pain frequency. Within each strata, the proportion of children that reported drinking alcohol or smoking or that experienced feelings of anxiety or depression was reported. Test-for-trend analyses assessed whether increasing frequency of pain was associated with health risk factors.</jats:p>

               </jats:sec>

               <jats:sec>

                  <jats:title>Results</jats:title>

                  <jats:p>Data was collected from ~2500 and 3900 children. Larger proportions of children smoked or drank alcohol within each strata of increasing pain frequency. The trend with anxiety and depression was less clear, although there was a marked difference between the children that reported no pain, and pain more frequently.</jats:p>

               </jats:sec>

               <jats:sec>

                  <jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title>

                  <jats:p>Two large, independent samples show adolescents that experience back pain more frequently are also more likely to smoke, drink alcohol and report feelings of anxiety and depression. Pain appears to be part of the picture of general health risk in adolescents.</jats:p>

               </jats:sec>},

keywords = {Back Pain, Environmental and Occupational Health, General Medicine, Public Health},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

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Yamato, Tiê Parma; Maher, Chris G; Traeger, Adrian C; Wiliams, Christopher M; Kamper, Steve J

Do schoolbags cause back pain in children and adolescents? A systematic review Journal Article

In: Br J Sports Med, vol. 52, no. 19, pp. 1241–1245, 2018, ISSN: 1473-0480.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Back Pain, General Medicine, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation

@article{Yamato2018,

title = {Do schoolbags cause back pain in children and adolescents? A systematic review},

author = {Tiê Parma Yamato and Chris G Maher and Adrian C Traeger and Christopher M Wiliams and Steve J Kamper},

url = {https://painsmart-education.sydney.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Do-schoolbags-cause-back-pain-in-children-and-adolescents-A-systematic-review.pdf, PDF},

doi = {10.1136/bjsports-2017-098927},

issn = {1473-0480},

year  = {2018},

date = {2018-10-00},

urldate = {2018-10-00},

journal = {Br J Sports Med},

volume = {52},

number = {19},

pages = {1241--1245},

publisher = {BMJ},

abstract = {<jats:sec><jats:title>Objective</jats:title><jats:p>To investigate whether characteristics of schoolbag use are risk factors for back pain in children and adolescents.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Data sources</jats:title><jats:p>Electronic searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL databases up to April 2016.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Eligibility criteria for selecting studies</jats:title><jats:p>Prospective cohort studies, cross-sectional and randomised controlled trials conducted with children or adolescents. The primary outcome was an episode of back pain and the secondary outcomes were an episode of care seeking and school absence due to back pain. We weighted evidence from longitudinal studies above that from cross-sectional. The risk of bias of the longitudinal studies was assessed by a modified version of the Quality in Prognosis Studies tool.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>We included 69 studies (n=72 627), of which five were prospective longitudinal and 64 cross-sectional or retrospective. We found evidence from five prospective studies that schoolbag characteristics such as weight, design and carriage method do not increase the risk of developing back pain in children and adolescents. The included studies were at moderate to high risk of bias. Evidence from cross-sectional studies aligned with that from longitudinal studies (ie, there was no consistent pattern of association between schoolbag use or type and back pain). We were unable to pool results due to different variables and inconsistent results.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Summary/conclusion</jats:title><jats:p>There is no convincing evidence that aspects of schoolbag use increase the risk of back pain in children and adolescents.</jats:p></jats:sec>},

keywords = {Back Pain, General Medicine, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}