BIOMECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LOWER LIMBS IN KOREAN SOCCER PLAYERS DIAGNOSED WITH LUMBAR FACET SYNDROME

Abstract

PURPOSE To investigate and compare biomechanical characteristics in Korean soccer players diagnosed with lumbar facet syndrome to biomechanical characteristics in other soccer players with no lower back pain. MEHODS: We recruited twenty Korean soccer players diagnosed with lumbar facet syndrome that were confirmed by facet block and recruited twenty players without any ailments. We performed biomechanical assessments on all players in their lower extremities and focused on pelvic and foot/ankle motion. The following parameters were measured: pelvic level (obliquity) angle in standing position, pelvic elevation angle in the Trendelenburg position, pelvic rotation in a marching-in-place position, inversion and eversion angle including the calculated neutral position at the subtalar joint, forefoot angle compared to rearfoot, and resting calcaneal stance position. RESULTS The following parameters show statistical differences between the two groups in which the first set of numbers identifies the facet syndrome group and the second set identifies the control group: high left pelvic level in a standing position (2.9±2.6; 0.6±0.9), insufficient right pelvic elevation in the Trendelenburg position (2.3±3.1; 4.7±1.9), increased inversion angle at the right subtalar joint (31.4±4.4; 26.7±7.3), decreased eversion angle at the right subtalar joint (5.1±4.3; 8.8±6.3), and increased right calcaneal varus angle in a standing position (2.3±2.8; −0.5±2.6). Also, an asymmetrical pelvic clockwise rotation was found among 17 out of 20 players with facet syndrome, whereas only 5 out of 20 players in the control group. CONCLUSION These biomechanical differences in the results can be conclusively considered as one of the major causes of lumbar facet syndrome. Thus, the correction of these biomechanical errors will help in treating patients with lumbar facet syndrome.