Three out of every ten Brazilian children and adolescents complain of musculoskeletal pain, which affects bones, ligaments, and muscles. This issue causes many to miss school and give up routine or leisure activities despite having no clear connection to trauma or repetitive strain, according to a study published in March in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy.
The research followed 694 children and adolescents with disabling musculoskeletal pain over 18 months. It found that while 86% recovered during this period, about 32% experienced disabling pain again at some point. The findings indicate that this condition is recurrent and requires ongoing attention.
Yamato, who coordinated the research, said, "Younger children with a better quality of life have a higher chance of spontaneous improvement. As they enter adolescence, the statistical chances of improvement decrease, which reinforces the urgency of early intervention." She also stated, "Understanding the course of that pain in childhood allows us to identify those who need early attention to potentially prevent persistent health problems in adulthood."
The study recruited participants from 28 public and private schools across Ceará (Fortaleza) and São Paulo (Itu, Salto, São Sebastião, and São Paulo), involving over 12,000 students. Of these, 2,688 agreed to participate by answering questionnaires about pain affecting their daily lives; ultimately 694 were monitored for the full duration.
Back pain was most frequently reported (51.3%), followed by leg (42.5%) and neck pain (20.5%). Yamato explained that musculoskeletal pain among young people is poorly studied and often misunderstood as 'growing pains.' She said, "There's no scientific evidence that the growth process or common growth spurts in childhood and adolescence cause pain." She added, "The problem with this interpretation is that it often leads to the idea that you just need to wait for the child to grow out of it... scientific literature has shown various consequences of not approaching this condition with due caution."
Yamato concluded, "Therefore, the clinical practice guidelines are to reassure families about the good prognosis but to closely monitor those who experience frequent and/or recurrent episodes of pain... We suggest healthcare professionals pay special attention to quality of life... moving beyond a purely physical analysis..."
