Leg Pain Commonly Precedes Spinal Pain in Children

In a study involving 1,008 Danish school children, parents reported each week whether their child had spinal pain, lower extremity pain, or upper extremity pain. The results revealed that children were more likely to experience an episode of spinal pain after experiencing lower extremity pain. Additionally, the likelihood of spinal pain increased in children who had more frequent or longer lasting lower extremity pain. The researchers conclude, “This paper confirms that attention to the entire musculoskeletal system is required to understand the course and development of spinal pain.” European Journal of Pediatrics, September 2018