LEISURE-TIME PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY IN THE YOUNG - CORRELATION WITH LOW-BACK-PAIN, SPINAL MOBILITY AND TRUNK MUSCLE STRENGTH IN 15-YEAR-OLD SCHOOL-CHILDREN

From a population of 1503 school children, 38 15-year-old children rep orting recurrent or continuous low-back pain (LBP) and 38 asymptomatic controls (34 boys and 42 girls) matched for age, sex and school class , were compared with respect to spinal mobility and trunk muscle stren gth. The subjects were interviewed on leisure time physical activity p receding the measurements. Of the subjects with recurrent or continuou s LBP and of those completely without LBP experience 73.7 % vs 42.1 % reported that they pursued some physical activity two days a week or l ess (P = 0.006). Further, decreased spinal mobility, diminished endura nce strength of the back muscles and diminished dynamic strength of th e abdominal muscles were found in the group with a low frequency of ac tivity. Mobility in children pursuing physical activity two days a wee k or less was decreased in lumbar extension measured by flexicurve, in forward bending, in side bending and in straight leg raising. Our res ults indicate that a very low frequency of physical activity in the yo ung might be the risk factor for LBR Pursuing sports as a leisure time activity is not harmful; on the contrary it has positive effects on s pinal mobility and trunk muscle strength.