Lower Back Pain in Athletes and Non-Athletes; A Group Comparison of Risk Factors and Pain Management (original) (raw)
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Rehabilitation research and practice, 2015
We aimed to examine systematically the available evidence on risk factors of low back pain (LBP) in athletes. We performed search without language restriction in PubMed, Ovid, Google Scholar, Scopus, and CINAHL. Longitudinal studies that examined possible risk factors of LBP in athletes were included in this systematic review. Based on methodological quality of studies, a best-evidence synthesis was conducted. Seven longitudinal studies were included, four of which had high methodological quality. Results showed that previous LBP, decreased lumbar flexion, and decreased lumbar extension are positively associated with LBP. There was moderate evidence for hip flexor tightness and high body weight as a risk factor. We found insufficient evidence for association between forward bending, previous injury, and amount of training per week, active years, age, and sex with LBP. In conclusion this study would provide a list of risk factors for LBP in athletes, though it showed a strong evidenc...
PLOS ONE, 2016
Most studies on the prevalence of back pain have evaluated it in developed countries (Human Development Index-HDI > 0.808), and their conclusions may not hold for developing countries. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of back pain in representative Brazilian athletes from public high schools. This cross-sectional study was performed during the state phase of the 2015 Jogos dos Institutos Federais (JIF), or Federal Institutes Games, in Brazil (HDI = 0.744), and it enrolled 251 athletes, 173 males and 78 females (14-20 years old). The dependent variable was back pain, and the independent variables were demographic, socioeconomic, psychosocial, hereditary, exercise-level, anthropometric, strength, behavioral, and postural factors. The prevalence ratio (PR) was calculated using multivariable analysis according to the Poisson regression model (α = 0.05). The prevalence of back pain in the three months prior to the study was 43.7% (n = 104), and 26% of the athletes reported feeling back pain only once. Multivariable analysis showed that back pain was associated with demographic (sex), psychosocial (loneliness and loss of sleep in the previous year), hereditary (ethnicity, parental back pain), strength (lumbar and hand forces), anthropometric (body mass index), behavioral (sleeping time per night, reading and studying in bed, smoking habits in the previous month), and postural (sitting posture while writing, while on a bench, and while using a computer) variables. Participants who recorded higher levels of lumbar and manual forces reported a lower prevalence of back pain (PR < 0.79), whereas feeling lonely in the previous year, obesity, and ethnicity exhibited the highest prevalence ratio (PR > 1.30). In conclusion, there is no association between exercise levels and back pain but there is an association between back pain and non-exercise related variables.
Evaluation of Low Back Pain in Athletes
Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach, 2011
Context: Low back pain is a common complaint in athletes. Athletes differ from the general population physiologically, making it unclear if the evaluation of low back pain should differ between these 2 groups. Evidence Acquisition: A literature search (PubMed, Ovid) was performed for the years 1995 through 2010. Keywords used were lumbar back pain, athletes, and adolescence. Results: Athletes with low back pain represent a very diverse group. The evaluation depends on the athlete’s age and the presence of “red flags.” The most common causes of low back pain in the preadolescent population are infection, tumor, and trauma. In the adolescent population, trauma spondylolysis/spondylolisthesis and hyperlordosis are commonly seen. Leading causes in the adult population are mechanics and osteoarthritis. The elderly frequently present with osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis, and internal medical etiologies. Conclusion: Athletes with back pain should have a diagnostic workup guided by their ag...
Risk factors for low back pain: A population-based longitudinal study
Arthritis care & research, 2018
To identify risk factors for low back pain (LBP) and lumbar radicular pain and to assess whether obesity and exposure to workload factors modify the effect of leisure-time physical activity on LBP and lumbar radicular pain. The population of this 11-year longitudinal study consists of a nationally representative sample of Finns aged 30 years or older (N=3505). The outcomes of the study were LBP and lumbar radicular pain for >7 or >30 days in the past 12 months at follow-up. LBP and lumbar radicular pain were more common in women than in men. LBP slightly declined with increasing age, while lumbar radicular pain increased with age. Abdominal obesity (defined by waist circumference) increased the risk of LBP (adjusted odds ratio (OR)=1.40, 95% CI 1.16-1.68 for LBP >7 days and 1.41, CI 1.13-1.76 for LBP >30 days) and general obesity (defined by body mass index) increased the risk of lumbar radicular pain (OR=1.44, 95% CI 1.12-1.85 for pain >7 days and 1.62, CI 1.16-2.26 ...
Preventing low back pain: diagnosis of psychosocial risk factors in athletes (MiSpEx Network)
Deutsche Zeitschrift für Sportmedizin
Diagnostik psychosozialer Risikofaktoren bei Athleten This lead to the recommendation of the European Guideline for Diagnosis and Therapy of Back Pain (44) that functional tests should be complemented by an early screening of modifiable Flag-factors for personalized treatment and prevention advices. Within a health management context, short and significant item lists are more preferable than excessive diagnostic tools.
Physical Treatments: Specific Physical Therapy Journal (PTJ), 2022
Low back pain (LBP) is the most common musculoskeletal disorder reported in the community, leading to chronic pain and disability. This review aims to determine the effectiveness of prevention and management protocols on LBP in athletes. Methods: Searches were conducted from 2010 to 2022 from international databases, including Google Scholar, Science Direct, and PubMed using keywords related to back pain in athletes. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) presenting the prevention and management protocol for back pain of athletes were included in this review. The physiotherapy evidence database (PEDro) scale was used to check the quality of articles. Results: Finally, 16 articles with 1,317 subjects met the inclusion criteria. These studies have mainly focused on the effect of taping, cognitive functional approach, movement patterns, conditioning, lifestyle, motor control, segmental motion, isokinetic, core stabilization, virtual reality training, dynamic and static stretching, Mézières method, functional movement screen, and semi-customized exercises in athletes at risk of LBP. The positive effect of stability and cognitive exercises were documented. Conclusion: The deep and superficial muscle integration exercises by correcting the body posture and correct muscle calling had the greatest effect on the balance of the muscles.
Asian Journal of Sports Medicine, 2014
Background: Low Back Pain (LBP) is one of the most prevalent causes of disability not only in the general population but also in athletes. Despite a large number of self-reported back specific disability questionnaires, there is no specific, well documented, outcome measure for athletes suffering from back pain. Objectives: This study aimed to identify the main descriptive themes representing functional disability in athletes due to LBP. Patients and Methods: We conducted a qualitative study using in-depth interviews to characterize the experiences of athletes with LBP. Twenty athletes with LBP were recruited and the main descriptive elements of their LBP related disability were extracted. Then a preliminary questionnaire using these themes was proposed. Results: The main disability indicators were pain intensity; stretching exercises, strengthening exercises, sport specific skills, back range of motion (ROM), sitting, walking, sleep patterns, self-care, and recreational activities, fear of pain and avoidance behavior, and changes in sexual activity. Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that apart from non-sports items, some sport related items should be included in the assessment of LBP disability levels in athletes. Our results have also been organized as a preliminary LBP disability questionnaire for athletes.
Evaluation of factors associated with severe and frequent back pain in high school athletes
PLOS ONE, 2017
Several studies have shown that half of all young athletes experience back pain (BP). However, high intensity and frequency of BP may be harmful, and the factors associated with BP severity have not been investigated in detail. Here, we investigated the factors associated with a high intensity and high frequency of BP in high school athletes. We included 251 athletes (173 boys and 78 girls [14-20 years old]) in this cross-sectional study. The dependent variables were a high frequency and high intensity of BP, and the independent variables were demographic, socioeconomic, psychosocial, hereditary, anthropometric, behavioural, and postural factors and the level of exercise. The effect measure is presented as prevalence ratio (PR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Of 251 athletes, 104 reported BP; thus, only these athletes were included in the present analysis. Results of multivariable analysis showed an association between high BP intensity and time spent using a computer (PR:
Libyan Journal of Medicine, 2015
Introduction: For obvious reasons, athletes are at greater risk of sustaining a lumber (lower) spine injury due to physical activity. To our knowledge, no previous studies have examined the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) in a Tunisian sports and physical education institute. Aim: To assess the prevalence of LBP in different sports among students studying in a sports and physical education institute in Tunisia, to determine the causes of the injuries, and to propose solutions. Methods: A total of 3,379 boys and 2,579 girls were studied. A retrospective cross-sectional survey was conducted on a group of students aged 18.5Á24.5 years at the Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax to estimate the prevalence of LBP and its relation to the type of sports. Data on age, weight, height, smoking, and the sport in which the student was injured in the low back were collected from the institute health service records from 2005 until 2013. Results: LBP was reported by 879 of the 5,958 study participants (14.8%). The prevalence of LBP was significantly higher (p B0.001) in females (17.6%) than in males (12.5%). LBP prevalence did not differ by body mass index or smoking habit (p !0.05). The sports associated with the higher rates of LBP were gymnastics, judo, handball, and volleyball, followed by basketball and athletics. Conclusion: LBP is frequent among undergraduate students of a sports and physical education institute in Tunisia. It is strongly associated with fatigue after the long periods of training in different sports. Gymnastics, judo, handball, and volleyball were identified as high-risk sports for causing LBP.
Evaluation Instruments for Assessing Back Pain in Athletes: A Systematic Review Protocol
Healthcare
Back pain is a public health problem that affects adolescents and adults worldwide. However, studies on back pain present inconsistent findings in part due to the use of different instruments, especially for athletes. Therefore, the objective of this systematic review protocol was to map the existing evidence on such tools. The systematic review will be conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Five electronic databases, Embase, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL, and Scopus will be searched. This review includes studies that investigated prevalence, incidence, and other variables. Titles and abstracts will be selected. Two independent reviewers will read the articles carefully and discrepancies, if any, will be dealt with by a third reviewer. All steps will be completed with Rayyan for systematic reviews and the methodological quality will be analyzed with a COSMIN checklist. Discussion: This systematic review will gather evidence on tools that assess back pain in athletes. The findings ...