PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Jones, G T
AU  - Macfarlane, G J
TI  - Epidemiology of low back pain in children and adolescents
AID  - 10.1136/adc.2004.056812
DP  - 2005 Mar 01
TA  - Archives of Disease in Childhood
PG  - 312--316
VI  - 90
IP  - 3
4099  - http://adc.bmj.com/content/90/3/312.short
4100  - http://adc.bmj.com/content/90/3/312.full
SO  - Arch Dis Child2005 Mar 01; 90
AB  - It has been estimated that over 80% of the population will report low back pain (LBP) at some point in life,1 and each year 7% of the adult population consult their GP with symptoms.2 Prevalence increases with age, reaching a peak during the sixth decade of life.3 Until recently little was known about LBP at young ages. Clinically it was perceived to be uncommon—with few children consulting because of LBP in primary care. Large prospective epidemiological studies have shown that, in those free of LBP at baseline, the best predictor of future onset is a previous history of LBP.4 Therefore, to understand the epidemiology of LBP, and what predisposes someone to a trajectory of LBP in adult life, it is important to examine the condition at young ages, to determine factors responsible for onset of initial episodes, and to examine whether LBP in childhood is related to symptoms in adulthood.