THE INCIDENCE OF BACK PAIN AND HEADACHE AMONG SWEDISH SCHOOL-CHILDREN

Musculoskeletal pain is exceedingly common in young adults. With the a im of studying these symptoms in schoolchildren, a questionnaire surve y was carried out among children 8, 11, 13 and 17 years old. The preva lence of back pain and headaches in 1,245 schoolchildren was studied, Twenty-nine per cent of the students reported back pain and 48% headac he. In all age groups studied, both back pain and headaches were more common among girls than boys. Girls also reported more frequent sympto ms than boys. In a longitudinal study 471 schoolchildren were asked a second time 2 years later. Nine per cent reported back pain and 30% he adache in both surveys, Five per cent reported both back pain and head ache on both occasions, Despite the reported symptoms most of the pupi ls did not report health problems. However, pupils with reported pain on both occasions may constitute a risk group for future chronic pain. There were statistically significant relationships between social, ps ychological and emotional factors and reported symptoms. No relationsh ip between physical factors and reported symptoms were noted. The obse rved relationships are not proof of causal relations but did indicate areas of problems which make interventions targeting pupils at risk an appropriate measure.