Internal Risk Factors for Low Back Pain in Pole Vaulters and Decathletes: A Prospective Study

Abstract

Background: Pole vaulters and decathletes frequently experience several types of injuries to their lower back, often resulting in mechanical low back pain (LBP). However, the risk factors for the occurrence of LBP in these athletes have not been defined. Purpose: To determine the physical factors that relate to LBP occurrence for collegiate pole vaulters and decathletes. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: We observed 31 pole vaulters and decathletes for 1 year. At the start of the observation period, isokinetic flexion and extension muscle strength of the knee and hip joints were recorded along with active and passive range of motion (ROM) and muscle tightness. Participants were then divided into 2 groups using the median value of each measurement: those below the median (low group) and those above the median (high group). The log-rank test was used to compare LBP occurrence between the low group and high group for all measurements. Multivariate regression analyses were thereafter applied using the Cox proportional hazards regression. Results: Log-rank tests revealed a statistically significant change in the survival curve for the occurrence of LBP in the participants with chronic LBP ( P = .037), the low group for hip flexion peak torque per body weight on the non-takeoff leg ( P = .047), and the low group for passive hip flexion angle on both legs (takeoff leg: P = .034; non-takeoff leg: P = .023). In addition, log-rank tests revealed a statistically significant change in the survival curve for the occurrence of LBP in the low group for passive hip extension angle on the takeoff leg only for the participants without chronic LBP ( P = .014). Conclusion: It may be necessary to acquire sufficient ROM and hip flexion to prevent LBP occurrence in pole vaulters and decathletes.

Acute Effect of Improved Hip Range of Motion on Maximum Hip Angle in Pole Vaulting: A Pilot Study

“…A procedure employed in previous studies (2,3) was used to measure both active and passive hip flexion and hip extension ROM in participants lying on a bed. All measurements were recorded using a camera (EX-F1, CASIO, Tokyo, Japan) and analyzed using image analysis software (NIH ImageJ version 14.4).…”

“…Both measures greatly depend on the stretch tolerance of participants (1). Previous studies (2,3) have reported that limited ROM is a risk factor for injury occurrence.…”

“…Rebella (12) reported that the lower back was the most common location of injury among collegiate pole vaulters. A previous study reported that the flexed type of low back pain was the most prevalent, and its occurrence was associated with low hip flexion and extension ROM among collegiate pole vaulters and decathletes (2). In addition, pole vaulters with chronic low back pain were shown to have lower active straight leg raise (SLR) angles than healthy pole vaulters, suggesting poor trunk stability or incompetence of the rest of the kinetic chain required when raising the lower limbs (3).…”

Differences in joint angles during pole vaulting between male pole vaulters with and without chronic low back pain

“…Rebella reported that the lower back is the most common injury location among collegiate pole vaulters [18]. Previous studies have reported a chronic LBP prevalence of 40.0% in male collegiate pole vaulters [7], and the occurrence of LBP was 55.6% in a 1-year observational study of collegiate pole vaulters and decathletes [6]. In addition, the prevalence of lumbar spondylolysis and intervertebral disc degeneration was 28.6% and 38.1%, respectively [8].…”

A Study on the Effect of Core Strength Strengthening Training on Exercise-Induced Lumbar Injuries

“…In daily sports training, athletes are prone to minor lumbar injuries or sprains due to insufficient warm-up and overloading of the lumbar region, and such conditions, if not treated in a timely manner or treated incompletely, can easily lead to lumbar injuries, which will not only affect the effectiveness of training, but also be detrimental to the physical health of athletes. Softball [6], high jump [7], gymnastics [8], and soccer [9,10] have a high likelihood of causing lumbar injury; therefore, the treatment of lumbar injury has received a lot of attention from researchers. Feng et al [11] studied the rehabilitation effect of massage combined with thermomagnetic therapy on lumbar injury and found that the therapy significantly improved the lumbar muscle strength and spinal column activity after two to four weeks of treatment and could be promoted in clinical applications.…”