Correlations between trunk muscle cross sectional areas and sagittal spinal curves in Australian Football athletes

Abstract

Background: Preventing lower limb injuries in Australian Football League (AFL) is a primary focus of medical teams across the competition. Smaller cross-sectional area (CSA) of the multifidus muscle has been identified as an injury risk factor in AFL athletes. Understanding why this is a risk factor has been largely theoretical. It has been shown that increased volume of the multifidus and lumbar erector spinae muscles is related to increased curvature in the lower lumbar spine. Identification of the relationships between the CSA of the multifidus, sagittal spinal angles, as well as CSAs of other trunk muscles could help us better understand why multifidus CSA is an injury risk factor for AFL athletes.