Sagittal Integral Morphotype of Competitive Amateur Athletes and Its Potential Relation with Recurrent Low Back Pain

Abstract

Athletes have higher thoracic and lumbar curvature in standing than the reference values of the non-athletic population. The sagittal integral morphotype method (SIM) assessment has not previously been applied to competitive amateur athletes (CAA). The propose of the present study was to determine the SIM of CAA treated at a sports-medicine center and to identify spinal misalignments associated with recurrent low back pain (LBP). An observational analysis was developed to describe the SIM in 94 CAA. The thoracic and lumbar curvatures of the CAA were measured in standing, sitting, and trunk forward flexion. Association analysis (Pearson’s chi-square and Cramér’s V tests) was then performed to identify the SIM misalignments associated with LBP. Effect size was analyzed based on Hedges’ g. The most common thoracic SIMs in CAA were total hyperkyphosis (male = 59.02%; female = 42.42%) and static hyperkyphosis (male = 11.48%; female = 6.06%). Hyperlordotic attitude (female = 30.30%; male = 4.92%), static-functional hyperkyphosis (male = 16.39%; female = 3.03%), and structured hyperlordosis (female = 21.21%; male = 1.64%) were the most common lumbar SIMs. Hyperlordotic attitude, static functional lumbar hyperkyphosis, and structured hyperlordosis were associated with LBP in male and female athletes.