Age-Related Differences in the Limited Range of Motion of the Lower Extremity and Their Relation to Low Back Pain in Young Baseball Players: A Cross-Sectional Study of 1215 Players

Sports Medicine - Open

Original Research Article

Ryohei Sato¹  Shin-ichi Konno¹  Ryoji Tominaga¹  Takahiro Igari¹  Yota Kaneko¹  Kinshi Kato²  Kenichi Otoshi²  Takahiro Kaga³ 

[1]Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, 1 Hikarigaoka, 960-1295, Fukushima City, Fukushima, Japan

[2]Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, 1 Hikarigaoka, 960-1295, Fukushima City, Fukushima, Japan

[3]Department of Sports Medicine, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Koriyama City, Japan

[4]Department of Sports Medicine, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Koriyama City, Japan

关键词: Low back pain;    Range of motion;    Knee;    Hip;    Baseball;    Adolescent;    Age group;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s40798-023-00572-w

 received in 2021-11-09, accepted in 2023-04-20,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundAge-related differences in the limited range of motion of the lower extremities and their relationship with low back pain in juvenile athletes have not been well assessed. This study investigated the relationship between low back pain and limited range of motion of the hip and knee in young baseball players during the baseball season.ResultsParticipants comprised 1215 baseball players (216 pitchers, 999 fielders) aged 6–16 years who underwent medical checkups (self-completed questionnaire and physical examination). Of the 1215 players, 255 (21.0%) experienced seasonal low back pain requiring rest during the previous year. The prevalence of low back pain and a positive Thomas test, straight-leg-raising test, and heel-to-buttock test increased with age. Univariate analysis revealed that a positive heel-to-buttock test in both the throwing and non-throwing arm sides in the 11–12 age group and a positive Thomas test in the throwing arm side in the 13–14 age group were associated with seasonal low back pain (P = 0.0051, P = 0.021, and P = 0.048, respectively). Multivariate analysis, adjusted for factors associated with low back pain, showed significant associations between the positive heel-to-buttock test (odds ratio 1.75, 95% confidence interval 1.11–2.79; P = 0.016) and low back pain in players aged 11–14 years.ConclusionsA positive heel-to-buttock test is potentially associated with low back pain among juvenile baseball players. Particular attention should be paid to the limited range of motion of the knee joint and tightness of the quadriceps femoris muscle among baseball players with low back pain aged 11–14 years.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2023

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