Abstract
The purpose of the present study is to analyse the incidence of back pain in young people aged 10–12, considering participation in sport, the type of sport practised, the frequency of practice and the possible differences between genders.
The study covered 2,270 students (1,214 boys and 1,056 girls) aged 10–12 in Majorca. The sample was selected from different clusters (schools) by means of convenience sampling. The questionnaire and data collection method were validated beforehand through test-retest.
The results obtained show that the incidence of back pain reaches 38.3% (34.5% for boys and 42.8% for girls). There were significant relationships between back pain and sport practice, a positive one in boys and a negative one in girls, which can be explained by the fact that the two groups practised different sports. The highest incidence of back pain was detected among children who practised volleyball, gymnastics and swimming for over 4 hours a week, as well as among those who practised rhythmic gymnastics.
Based on the results obtained, the study suggests that back pain is a malaise affecting the young population, especially females, in a considerable way, and that the type of sport as well as the frequency of practice determined whether a given sport can be a risk factor associated with back pain.