Results of these studies indicate that school-based spinal health interventions may be effective in increasing spinal care knowledge and decreasing the prevalence of spinal pain .
However , overall the evidence is inconclusive regarding spinal care behaviors .
The poor quality of the review ed studies limits the conclusions that can be made regarding the effectiveness of school-based spinal health interventions
OBJECTIVES To establish the effectiveness of  school-based spinal health interventions  in terms of : 1 ) improving knowledge about the spine/spinal care ; 2 ) changing spinal care behaviors ; and 3 ) decreasing the prevalence of spinal pain .
SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Spinal pain is a significant problem in children and adolescents that has been addressed through school-based spinal health interventions .
No systematic review has been carried out on this topic to date .
Children at Risk: Risk Factors for Low Back Pain in the Elementary School Environment
Study Design . A prevalence survey of 101 r and omly selected elementary schools in the Israel Central District . Objectives . To identify and describe risk factors for  low back pain that exist in the elementary school environment . Summary of Background Data . Recent surveys report a high prevalence of low back pain in children and adolescents that increases with age , with a correlation between low back pain in adolescence and that experienced in adulthood . Environmental risk factors have been associated with the development of low back pain in children . Because of the significant amount of time children spend in their school environment , risk factors need to be identified in this environment . Methods . A question naire , completed by school nurses , measured risk factors among 10,000 children in elementary schools in Israel . These included backpack and student weight , the availability of storage facilities , the  appropriateness of chair and desk height to student height  ,  seating arrangements during frontal lessons  , and  physical activity at recess . Results . Between 30 % and 54 % of students carried > 15 % of their body weight . Nearly 15 % of the first grade rs and 20 % of sixth grade rs had inappropriate chairs . In 74 % of the classes , students sat with their side facing the teacher and in 35 % students sat with their backs . In 6 % of schools , no physical activity is offered at recess . Conclusions . Shortcomings were found in all areas investigated . There is an urgent need for health promotion programs to increase awareness and reduce risks in the school environment
Results of these studies indicate that school-based spinal health interventions may be effective in increasing spinal care knowledge and decreasing the prevalence of spinal pain .
However , overall the evidence is inconclusive regarding spinal care behaviors .
The poor quality of the review ed studies limits the conclusions that can be made regarding the effectiveness of school-based spinal health interventions
OBJECTIVES To establish the effectiveness of  school-based spinal health interventions  in terms of : 1 ) improving knowledge about the spine/spinal care ; 2 ) changing spinal care behaviors ; and 3 ) decreasing the prevalence of spinal pain .
SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Spinal pain is a significant problem in children and adolescents that has been addressed through school-based spinal health interventions .
No systematic review has been carried out on this topic to date .