Title Spinal pain in Danish school children – how often and how long? The CHAMPS Study-DK Authors First author: Kristina Boe Dissing1 Last author: Lise Hestbæk1,2 Co-authors: Jan Hartvigsen1,2, Christopher Williams3,4, Steven Kamper5, Eleanor Boyle1, Niels Wedderkopp6,7 Affiliations 1 Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark 2 Nordic Institute of Chiropractic and Clinical Biomechanics, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark 3 Hunter Medical Research Institute, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW Australia. 4 Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Longworth Ave, Wallsend, NSW Australia. 5 The George Institute for Global Health, Level 3, 50 Bridge St, Sydney NSW 2000 Australia 6 Institute of Regional Health Services Research, University of Southern Denmark, Winsloewparken 193, DK-5000 Odense C, Denmark 7 Sports Medicine Clinic, Orthopaedic Department Hospital of Lillebaelt, Østre Hougvej 55, DK-5500 Middelfart, Denmark Objectives The overall aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of spinal pain in 9-15 year-old Danish schoolchildren, over a three-year period. Specifically determining the characteristics of spinal pain in terms of frequency and duration. Methods A three-year prospective longitudinal cohort study following a cohort of 1400 school children. Parents received weekly text messages (SMS) inquiring about the child´s musculoskeletal pain. Results The results were presented separately for each study year (year 1, 2 and 3). The prevalence was 29%, 33% and 31% for year 1, 2 and 3 respectively, and increased with age, especially for lumbopelvic pain. Most children had few and short episodes with spinal pain, but 21%, 20% and 25% had three or more episodes during a study year and 16%, 17% and 17% of all episodes lasted for more than four weeks for year 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Conclusion This study confirms the relatively high prevalence of spinal pain in young people. Most episodes are brief, but there is a substantial group of children with frequent and long-lasting episodes of spinal pain indicating a need for action.