Lumbopelvic motor control and low back pain in elite soccer players: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the history of low back pain and quality of lumbopelvic motor control in soccer players. Forty-three male elite soccer players (mean age, 18.2 ± 1.4 years) filled in questionnaires related to low back pain and attended a session to assess lumbopelvic motor control by means of five tests (the bent knee fall out test, the knee lift abdominal test, the sitting knee extension test, the waiter's bow and the transversus abdominis test). A physiotherapist, blinded to the medical history of the participants, scored (0 = failed, 1 = correct) the performance of the players for each of the tests resulting in a lumbopelvic motor control score ranging from 0 to 5. Forty-seven per cent of the soccer players reported a disabling low back pain episode lasting at least two consecutive days in the previous year. These players scored worse lumbopelvic motor control than players without a history of low back pain (lumbopelvic motor control score of 1.8 vs. 3.3, P < 0.01). The between-groups difference was particularly marked for the bent knee fall out test, the knee lift abdominal test and the transversus abdominis test (P < 0.01). In conclusion, most soccer players with a history of low back pain had an altered lumbopelvic motor control. Further research should examine whether lumbopelvic motor control is etiologically involved in low back pain episodes in soccer players.

Effect of Playing Position, Match Half, and Match Day on the Trunk Inclination, G-Forces, and Locomotor Efficiency Experienced by Elite Soccer Players in Match Play

“…Then, the differences in the activity-profile from each position may explain why there were positional differences in G-forces in match play. In consequence, the development of position-specific training drills considering the trunk inclination and G-forces experienced by the players is necessary to prepare not only for the physical demands (e.g., training trunk flexion postures with constant G-forces, which may avoid low back pain) [ 12 ] but also for successful performance in the field of regard [ 10 , 16 ]. However, this consideration does not seem to be so important for the locomotor efficiency ratio since no positional differences were found, which confirms the results reported by a previous investigation [ 22 ].…”

“…In this regard, the declines in physical performance have been linked to a depletion of muscle glycogen towards the end of the match [ 26 , 35 ]. These observations have significant practical implications for strength and conditioning coaches since the resistance to fatigue needs to be trained through trunk strength exercises, trunk mobility (e.g., spine sparing exercises) in addition to lumbopelvic control exercises [ 12 , 36 ]. However, match half did not significantly affect the locomotor efficiency ratio of the players and these results are in line with the only investigation on this ratio available to date [ 22 ].…”

“…One of the variables that give an insight into the postural demands is the sagittal trunk inclination of the player while running [ 10 , 11 ]. This variable is highly associated with the low back pain [ 12 ], hamstring injury [ 13 ], hip and knee energetics in running [ 14 ], and patellofemoral joint stress [ 15 ]. For example, running at a controlled speed (e.g., 3.4 m/s) with an excessive upright posture has been associated with greater patellofemoral joint stress compared to running with forward trunk flexion [ 15 ].…”

Performance in dynamic movement tasks and occurrence of low back pain in youth floorball and basketball players

“…Furthermore, it has been suggested that for the functional evaluation of the trunk and lumbo-pelvic-hip complex, dynamic hip-pelvic movement patterns should be investigated [10]. Previous research has identified differences between youth athletes with and without LBP on lumbo-pelvic-hip complex movement patterns [11][12][13][14] and an association between LBP and frontal plane hip-pelvic movement patterns has been observed in single-leg dynamic tasks in youth cricket players [15] and in adults with LBP [16].…”

Kinematic Analysis of the Postural Demands in Professional Soccer Match Play Using Inertial Measurement Units

“…In addition, the trunk kinematics have a significant effect on knee and hip energetics in running [ 7 ], hamstring injury [ 8 ], patellofemoral joint stress [ 9 ], and low back pain in professional soccer players [ 10 ]. For instance, a previous study found that upright trunk posture in running was associated with greater patellofemoral joint stress than running with forward trunk flexion [ 9 ].…”