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Review
. 2022 Mar 15;9(3):417.
doi: 10.3390/children9030417.

Treatment of Unspecific Back Pain in Children and Adolescents: Results of an Evidence-Based Interdisciplinary Guideline

Michael Frosch  1   2 , Stina Leinwather  1   2 , Stefan Bielack  3 , Susanne Blödt  4 , Uta Dirksen  5 , Michael Dobe  1   2 , Florian Geiger  6 , Renate Häfner  7 , Lea Höfel  7 , Bettina Hübner-Möhler  1   2 , Thekla von Kalle  8 , Burkhard Lawrenz  9 , Andreas Leutner  10 , Frauke Mecher  11 , Kiril Mladenov  12 , Heike Norda  13 , Lorin Stahlschmidt  1   2 , Marc Steinborn  14 , Ralf Stücker  12 , Ralf Trauzeddel  15 , Regina Trollmann  16 , Julia Wager  1   2 , Boris Zernikow  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Treatment of Unspecific Back Pain in Children and Adolescents: Results of an Evidence-Based Interdisciplinary Guideline

Michael Frosch et al. Children (Basel). .

Abstract

Using a structured approach and expert consensus, we developed an evidence-based guideline on the treatment and prevention of non-specific back pain in children and adolescents. A comprehensive and systematic literature search identified relevant guidelines and studies. Based on the findings of this literature search, recommendations on treatment and prevention were formulated and voted on by experts in a structured consensus-building process. Physical therapy (particularly physical activity) and psychotherapy (particularly cognitive behavioral therapy) are recommended for treating pediatric non-specific back pain. Intensive interdisciplinary treatment programs should be provided for chronic and severe pain. Drug therapy should not be applied in children and adolescents. Further research on non-specific back pain in childhood and adolescence is strongly needed to reduce the imbalance between the high burden of non-specific back pain in childhood and adolescence and the low research activity in this field.

Keywords: adolescents; back pain; children; evidence-based; guideline; prevention; treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart. RCT = randomized controlled trial; SR = systematic review; LoE = level of evidence.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Therapeutic process after first assessment of non-specific back pain in children and adolescents. 1st re-evaluation 3–6 weeks after first assessment; 2nd re-evaluation 3 months after first assessment. Green box = treatment; blue box = diagnostic measures; red box = diagnostic decision.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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