• Antonio Carlos Onofrio, Marcelo Cozzensa da Silva, Marlos Rodrigues Domingues, and Airton José Rombaldi.
• Post Graduate Program in Physical Education, Federal University of Pelotas, Rua Luiz de Camões, 625 Bairro Três Vendas, Pelotas, RS CEP 96055-630, Brazil.
• Eur Spine J. 2012 Jul 1;21(7):1234-40.

PurposeThe aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of acute low back pain (ALBP) and associated factors in high school students from a Southern Brazilian city.MethodsThe study was cross-sectional and interviewed 1,233 students 13- to 19-year-olds, attending high schools. A total of 25 schools were included in the sample (15 state institutions, 7 private, 2 federal and 1 municipal). The ALBP was evaluated using two questions. The outcome was LBP in the previous 30 days.ResultsThe prevalence of ALBP was 13.7%. Non-white students, who commuted to school walking, showed a higher prevalence of ALBP. The prevalence of ALBP is relatively high.ConclusionsFurther studies with follow-ups to adulthood are needed to investigate whether physical cumulative loads on the lumbar spine (for example, duration/transport, school bags and inadequate school furniture) during adolescence, may influence the development of ALBP later in life.

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