Abdominal Muscle Endurance and its Association with Posture and Low Back Pain: An initial investigation in male and female élite gymnasts

Abstract

Low back pain is a common consequence of gymnastic training. Potential aetiological factors include postural muscle weakness and abnormal posture. This study assessed the incidence of, and relationship between, reduced postural muscle endurance, posture type and low back pain in 12 male and 10 female élite gymnasts and matched controls. Postural muscle endurance was assessed using a pressure biofeedback unit (PBU). Posture was categorised subjectively by observation. History of low back pain was determined by questionnaire. Postural muscle endurance was non-significantly reduced (P > 0.05) in all gymnasts. The most common postures reported were sway-back (male gymnasts 100%; male controls 62.5%), lordosis (female gymnasts 80%) and normal (female controls 70%). Low back pain was reported in two female gymnasts, two female controls, nine male gymnasts and two male controls. Postural muscle endurance tended to reduce (P > 0.05) in those subjects with low back pain and lordotic postures. Low back pain was slightly more prevalent in those subjects with a sway-back posture. There is some evidence of a link between low back pain, posture and postural muscle endurance in gymnasts although no cause-and-effect relationships can be determined. These data should be further investigated and the practical implications for gymnasts and their training should be evaluated. Low back pain is a common consequence of gymnastic training. Potential aetiological factors include postural muscle weakness and abnormal posture. This study assessed the incidence of, and relationship between, reduced postural muscle endurance, posture type and low back pain in 12 male and 10 female élite gymnasts and matched controls. Postural muscle endurance was assessed using a pressure biofeedback unit (PBU). Posture was categorised subjectively by observation. History of low back pain was determined by questionnaire. Postural muscle endurance was non-significantly reduced (P > 0.05) in all gymnasts. The most common postures reported were sway-back (male gymnasts 100%; male controls 62.5%), lordosis (female gymnasts 80%) and normal (female controls 70%). Low back pain was reported in two female gymnasts, two female controls, nine male gymnasts and two male controls. Postural muscle endurance tended to reduce (P > 0.05) in those subjects with low back pain and lordotic postures. Low back pain was slightly more prevalent in those subjects with a sway-back posture. There is some evidence of a link between low back pain, posture and postural muscle endurance in gymnasts although no cause-and-effect relationships can be determined. These data should be further investigated and the practical implications for gymnasts and their training should be evaluated.