Spondylolysis and lifestyle among prehistoric coastal groups from Brazil

Abstract

Southern Brazilian prehistoric coastal series were examined for the presence of spondylolysis. All defects occurred at the pars interarticularis, most at L5 (51%), with the vast majority bilateral and complete (86.2%).Frequencies decreased from young adulthood (54.2%) through mid-adulthood (33.3%) to older adulthood (12.5%), suggesting differential mortality among affected individuals. The high overall prevalence (29.6%) demonstrates that these groups experienced a strenuous lifestyle, with activities that required repetitive and vigorous movements of lumbar hyperextension and rotation. Archaeological data provide support to interpret this pattern. Throwing harpoons, rowing and wrestling fishing nets were likely the main activities associated with the defect among men. Continuous loading of weight, including plant resources, mollusks and nursing children, were probably the tasks associated with spondylolysis in women.

Lumbar spondylolysis in ancient Siberian Eskimo

“…Thus, the possibility of the existence of differential mortality via emerging adaptive constraints is not excluded. This interpretation was proposed by Lessa (2011) with regard to a precolonial coastal group from Southern Brazil, where a similar decrease in spondylolysis incidence was observed from early to late adulthood. Lessa hypothesized that “pain would have been one of the causes of adaptive limitations, such as difficulties to swim, dive and run, which could contribute to the deaths by drowning, or during hunting or warfare activities” (Lessa, 2011, p. 666).…”

“…The Alaskan Inuit might have used similar set of strategies, whereas some of the Inuit groups in Canadian Arctic were more reliant on hunting terrestrial animals, fish and fowl in addition to marine animals (Burch & Csonka, 1999). Interestingly, some precontact coastal groups of Native Indians that were involved in hunting and fishing also show relatively high frequencies of spondylolysis (e.g., Lessa, 2011; Weiss, 2009). Thus, it would be meaningful to perform an analysis of spondylolysis occurrence depending on differences in lifestyle and hunting specialization.…”

Classification et prise en charge du spondylolisthésis lombosacré chez les jeunes athlètes

“…La prévalence du spondylolisthésis est plus élevée chez certaines populations préhistoriques [3] ou amérindiennes [4], vraisemblablement à cause d'une prédisposition génétique et des tâches de la vie quotidienne plus physiques. La prévalence de la spondylolyse et du spondylolisthésis est également plus élevée chez les athlètes pratiquant certains sports tels que la gymnastique [5] et le football américain [6] due aux charges répétées transmises à la jonction lombosacrée, notamment lors de l'hyperextension du rachis la pars interarticularis subit des charges en cisaillement, compression et tension durant les mouvements de flexion et extension [7].…”

Dentes, ossos e suas formas: lições aprendidas sobre os construtores de sambaquis

“…A comparação intragrupal e intergrupal, a partir dos diferentes marcadores, contribui para a discussão de hipóteses sobre atividades físicas desenvolvidas pelos grupos de sambaquis e as conseqüências de seu estilo de vida (Rodrigues-Carvalho e Souza 2005). Muito embora não representem propriamente doenças ou sinais patológicos, relacionam-se com posturas prolongadas, atividades e gestos repetitivos e sobrecargas contínuas, principalmente sobre a coluna e membros, e podem indicar além do uso do corpo, condições incapacitantes, perda funcional, sofrimento e compaixão que apóia e permite a vida seguir, contribuindo com interessantes discussões até mesmo sobre dimensões sociais dos grupos do passado (Kennedy 1989, Capasso, Kennedy e Wilczac 1990 Para os grupos de sambaquis, um trabalho pioneiro foi o de Neves (1982) O estudo semelhante de outros sítios costeiros (Lessa , 2010, além de comparar sambaquis com e sem cerâmica, de modo a testar hipóteses de mudanças de comportamento advindas da possibilidade de contato, de mudanças culturais e econômicas. Estudando o sitio Tapera, em Santa Catarina, confirmaram que ali a freqüência de lesões traumáticas violentas, como as fraturas de crânio, de antebraço (Parry), e a presença de pontas de projéteis nos esqueletos, era maior do que em séries de sambaquis.…”