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Low back pain in competitive rhythmic gymnasts.
A Cupisti1, C D'Alessandro, I Evangelisti
1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. acupisti@int.med.unipi.it
The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness
|June 8, 2004
Summary
Competitive rhythmic gymnasts experience less low back pain than the general population. Factors like leanness, strength, and flexibility may protect against back pain in athletes.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Orthopedics
- Rehabilitation
Background:
- Repetitive lumbar hyperextensions in rhythmic gymnastics may increase low back injury risk.
- Leanness, muscular strength, and flexibility are crucial for rhythmic gymnastics performance.
- These physical attributes could potentially act as protective factors against back pain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of low back pain in club-level competitive rhythmic gymnasts.
- To compare low back pain rates between rhythmic gymnasts and a control group.
- To identify factors associated with low back pain in this athletic population.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 67 rhythmic gymnasts (aged 13-19) and 104 age-matched controls.
- Standardized questionnaires assessed back pain symptoms.
- Data collected included anthropometrics, physical activity, psychological status, smoking, and menarche age.
Main Results:
- Lower prevalence of low back pain in gymnasts (10.4%) compared to controls (26.0%).
- Gymnasts exhibited lower body weight, BMI, fat mass, and delayed menarche.
- Low back pain was associated with higher body weight, BMI, fat mass, older age, smoking, and anxiety/depression.
Conclusions:
- Competitive rhythmic gymnasts demonstrate a reduced prevalence of low back pain.
- Factors such as youth, leanness, non-smoking status, positive mental health, and physical conditioning are protective.
- Rhythmic gymnastics may not be a high-risk sport for low back pain.