Frequency of spondylolysis and chronic low back pain in young soccer players

Abstract

Objective: To demonstrate the safety of soccer for adolescents in terms of chronic lesions of the lumbar spine, particularly spondylolysis. Methods: 54 young players underwent a pre-season assessment. The athletes were submitted to radiography of the lumbosacral spine. Players complaining of chronic low back pain were later submitted to more specific tests. Results: only 1 athlete (1.85 % of our sample) had complaints of chronic low back pain. In this case, the radiograph showed olisthesis grade I spondylolysis at the L5 level. Conclusion: Soccer proved to be a very safe sport in terms of the risk of developing chronic lesions of the lumbosacral spine. However, the actual incidence of spondylolysis in these athletes was not determined because only plain radiographs were used in this study.Keywords: Low back pain; Athletes; Soccer; Spondylolysis.

Espondilólise e espondilolistese em atletas

“…5 A alta incidência de lombalgia em atletas pode chegar a 86%, de acordo com a literatura, e a associação deste quadro com espondilólise de até 60% demonstram a necessidade do exato entendimento da história natural da patologia. 6 Epidemiologia Cerca de 93% dos casos de espondilólise estão associados à pratica esportiva. 7 A sua incidência na população geral é de 6% e cerca de 75% dos casos evoluirão para algum grau de escorregamento anterior, ou seja, para uma espondilolistese.…”

“… 5 The incidence of low back pain in athletes is high, reaching 86% per the literature; in addition, its association with spondylolysis in up to 60% of the cases demonstrates the need for an exact understanding of the natural history of this condition. 6 …”

“… 5 A alta incidência de lombalgia em atletas pode chegar a 86%, de acordo com a literatura, e a associação deste quadro com espondilólise de até 60% demonstram a necessidade do exato entendimento da história natural da patologia. 6 …”