Sagittal spinal curvatures in adolescent male basketball players and non-training individuals – a two-year study

Abstract

Summary Objective To compare changes in anteroposterior spinal curvatures in young male basketball players and non-training controls over a 2-year period. Methods The study included 10 basketball players and 11 non-training males. At the start of the study, all participants were aged 13; they underwent three anteroposterior spinal curvature measurements at baseline and years 1 and 2 of the study. A Rippstein plurimeter was used to determine anteroposterior spinal curvatures. Results Basketball players and their non-training peers only differed regarding the 1st quantification of lumbar lordosis ( P P P P > 0.05). Conclusions The shape of anteroposterior spinal curvatures has changed in both basketball players and non-athletes; however, the trends of these changes were different. Basketball players exhibited age- and training time-related flattening of the thoracic spine while non-athletes showed deepening of the thoracic kyphosis. This might evidence some effect of regular basketball training on the shape of anteroposterior spinal curvatures.