Lombalgias em Atletas de Competição de Voleibol - Identificação de factores de risco biomorfológicos e de carga

Abstract

According to several authors, low back pain is in volleyball a common phenomenon which must be understood. Low back pain is the “expression of a crossing and interdependence of risk factors”. This study arises within this context with the aim of understanding which risk factors (of biomorphological and load nature) may be responsible for this condition, in this specific sport. Goals: To identify and determine the influence of biomorphological and load risk factors on low back pain occurrences, on volleyball professional players. Study design: Epidemiological-natured, transversal and retrospective. Methods: A self-answer questionnaire was distributed to 301 athletes of the Autonomous Region of Madeira in order to determine the prevalence of the lesion, to collect information about its prevalence pattern, as well as to characterise the load factors related to the training. Due to convenience reasons, 124 athletes – with and without low back pain - were selected. A battery of tests was applied to these athletes for the purpose of getting data on their body characteristics, flexibility, strength and lumbar mobility. Results: The annual prevalence (2005) of low back pain was of 17,2%. The most affected subgroup was the senior range, in which the prevalence values reached 30,6%. The gender was a difference indicator. Indirect trauma was the most mentioned situation as being the cause for the complaints; the serve and spike were the technical gestures pointed out as being at the origin of the pain. The lesions occurred mainly in training situations having had spontaneous resolution, thus could be considered benign. The risk factors for low back pain occurrence found in this research were: age, years of practice and higher values of the abdominal and bicipital fold. As protector factors we highlight: the male gender, the right lateral flexors, lumbar mobility and the practice of coordination exercises. Conclusions and implications: Low back pain is indeed a reality in national volleyball, having an own identity and a typical pattern of occurrence. The risk factors especially reflect age and accumulated time of practice. It was verified that the increase of fat on the torso area and its harmful consequences were determinant to these athletes. It was also proven that the prevention programmes should include a special attention on motor coordination, torso muscles strength and lumbar mobility.