Sagittal Spinal Morphotype Assessment in Dressage and Show Jumping Riders

Abstract

Context: Previous research has analyzed how the sport influences sagittal spinal curvatures in young athletes and has found that spinal curves may be modified as a consequence of repeated movement patterns and postures of each discipline. Objective: To analyze sagittal spinal alignment by equestrian discipline and its relation to training load, and to describe “sagittal integrative morphotype” in young riders. Design: Observational descriptive study. Setting: Training room. Participants: A total of 23 riders (aged 9–17 y)—13 dressage riders (3 males and 10 females) and 10 show jumping riders (5 males and 5 females)—participated voluntarily. Main Outcome Measures: Mann–Whitney U test was applied to determine differences between riders’ characteristics (gender, discipline, and training load) and spine variables. Results: According to normality ranges for spinal curves, females showed an increase for lumbar curvature in standing position. It was found that show jumping riders manifested an increment in thoracic and lumbar curves while standing and an increase in the thoracic curvature in slump sitting. Statistically significant differences were found when lumbar curvature, “sit and reach” distance, and lumbo-horizontal angle in flexion were analyzed by gender in “sit and reach” test. No statistical significant differences were found when spinal curves in each position were analyzed depending on the training load. With regard to “sagittal integrative morphotype,” all riders presented a hyperkyphotic dorsal morphotype no matter what their discipline. As for the lumbar curve, dressage and show jumping riders presented a functional hyperkyphotic morphotype. Conclusions: It is important to note that many riders presented a sagittal imbalance for the thoracic and lumbar curves. Therefore, as the sagittal spinal misalignments persist and worsen over time, exercise programs to prevent or rehabilitate these imbalances in young riders will be needed. The “sagittal integrative morphotype” assessment is an essential tool in order to identify the spinal misalignment.

Sitting Posture, Sagittal Spinal Curvatures and Back Pain in 8 to 12-Year-Old Children from the Region of Murcia (Spain): ISQUIOS Programme

“…Measurements were performed by the same physician expert and participants were assessed wearing undergarments and barefoot. Students did not perform warm-up or stretching exercises before or during the measurement [35,36]. Three trials for each measure were administered/recommended.…”

“…The protocol described by Santonja [38] was used to assess the sagittal spinal disposition, which has been previously used in other studies [35,36,39,40]. Prior to data collection, the spinous process of the first thoracic vertebra (T1), the lumbar-thoracic transition (T12-L1) and the fifth lumbar vertebrae (L5) were marked on the skin of participants [41].…”

“…Prior to data collection, the spinous process of the first thoracic vertebra (T1), the lumbar-thoracic transition (T12-L1) and the fifth lumbar vertebrae (L5) were marked on the skin of participants [41]. In order to assess the slump sitting position, the participant sat on a stretcher in a relaxed position and without feet support (with the eyes and ears in line horizontally, forearms placed over the thighs and knees flexed) [35,36].…”

Peer Review #2 of "Sagittal spinal morphotype assessment in 8 to 15 years old Inline Hockey players (v0.1)"

“…All the measurements were performed by the same Sport Science expert and participants were assessed wearing undergarments and barefoot. Athletes did not perform warmup or stretching exercises before or during the measurement in order to achieve real clinical conditions (Aalto, Airaksinen, Härkönen, & Arokoski, 2005;Cejudo, 2015; Ginés-Díaz, Martínez-Romero, Cejudo, Aparicio-Sarmiento, & Sainz de Baranda, 2019). An unilevel inclinometer (ISOMED, Inc., Portland, OR) was used to quantify the sagittal spinal curvatures by providing considerable reproducibility and validity, with a good correlation with the radiographic measurement (Mayer, Tencer, Kristoferson, & Mooney, 1984;Saur, Ensink, Frese, Seeger, & Hildebrandt, 1996), and according to the methodology described by Santonja (1996), which has been used in previous studies (Ginés-Díaz et al, 2019; Sainz de Baranda, Santonja, & Rodríguez-Iniesta, 2009;Sanz-Mengibar et al, 2018).…”

Trunk Lateral Flexor Endurance and Body Fat: Predictive Risk Factors for Low Back Pain in Child Equestrian Athletes

“…Recreational EA show higher incidence of LBP than professional EA [ 8 ]. However, no differences were observed in LBP prevalence values between classical dressage and horse jumping equestrian modalities [ 10 , 11 ].…”