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Latest Research
Research Details
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| Research Title: |
Adolescent flexibility, endurance strength, and physical activity as predictors of adult tension neck, low back pain and knee injury: a 25 year follow up study |
| Type of Research: |
Publication Articles |
| Category: |
Follow Up study
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| Keywords: |
Activity
Back Pain
Endurance
Flexibility
Knee Injury
Predictors
Strength
Tension Neck
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| Author(s): |
LO Mikkelsson, H Nupponen, J Kaprio, H Kautiainen, M Mikkelsson, UM Kujala |
| Author(s) Bio Box: |
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| Release Date: |
02 May 2006 |
| Research Summary/Text: |
In 1976 and again in 2001, 520 males and 605 females participated in this follow up study in which a sample group aged between 9-21 years were recruited by random selection from Finnish schools across the country. In 1976 participants responded to a questionnaire and undertook a sit and reach test (flexibility) and a 30 second sit up test (endurance strength). In 2001 a fifty-two question survey on health, physical activity and disease risk factors was administered to study participants.
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| Research Objectives: |
The 25 year follow up study investigated whether physical fitness characteristics (flexibility and endurance strength) and physical activity in adolescence predict the occurrence of common chronic musculoskeletal symptoms (low back pain and tension neck) or knee injuries up to the age of about 40 years in men and women.
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| Research Outcomes: |
In this 25 year follow up study, results for men and women differed. For men, high adolescent flexibility predicted low occurrence of tension neck whereas for women high endurance strength was a predictor of low occurrence of tension neck. In men, high endurance strength in adolescence was a predictor of knee injury in adulthood.
Of the adulthood factors, physical activity 1-4 times a week may lower the risk of low back pain in women. For both men and women, the higher the BMI in adulthood, the greater the risk of tension neck and low back pain. Higher BMI was also a risk factor for knee injury in women.
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| Research Implications: |
The results of this study provide evidence that overall good flexibility in men and good endurance strength in women may help to decrease the risk of tension neck symptoms. High endurance strength in boys may indicate an increased risk of knee injury probably because of covariation with participation in activities with high injury risk. The possible benefits of childhood and adolescent physical activity on low back pain in men and women require further study.
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