Low back pain incidence in New Zealand rowers and its relationship with functional movement patterns

Abstract

Introduction: Low back pain (LBP) is frequently reported as the most common injury affecting rowers, accounting for 15-40% of all rowing injuries. It is generally believed and promoted within the sports medicine community that screening functional movement patterns is important as an injury prevention strategy and performance strategy. The Movement Competency Screen (MCS) is a tool that consists of five functional movement patterns. It has been shown to be reliable in uninjured subjects but has not been used in injured populations or linked to the injury prevalence and incidence of sporting populations. Purpose: To investigate the incidence of LBP among New Zealand rowers and its relationship with the type and volume of training undertaken, as well as studying the effect LBP has on rowers’ ability to train and compete. A secondary aspect of the study was to investigate the relationship between functional movement patterns as assessed by the MCS and the LBP injury data. Methods: New Zealand representative rowers, 46 males (mean age 22 years, SD 4) and 30 females (mean age 21 years, SD 4) undertook a longitudinal prospective cohort study using a self-reported on-line questionnaire, repeated monthly over a full year, therefore including off-season as well as training and competition phases. The MCS was undertaken at the beginning of the study. Results: 817 (90%) questionnaires were completed, 59 (78%) subjects completed all twelve questionnaires. Injury incidence rate equaled 1.68 per 1000 exposure hours. The cumulative incidence was 95% with 72 new LBP episodes reported. Fifty two percent of subjects experienced at least one new episode of LBP. The point prevalence of LBP was 13.7%. Of these injuries, 45% were incidental, 29% were minor, 18% were