Julian Simpson
- Oct 24, 2023
- 3 min read

Elite Sport Athletes - how prevalent are posture problems causing muscle pain

Updated: Jun 19

An April 2023 study looked into if there was an association between spinal posture and any prevalence of muscle pain

The study looked at nearly 100 elite ice hockey players between 18 and 38

The exposure of sports athletes to intense athletic training may affect SPINAL ALIGNMENT, leading to a greater prevalence of functional asymmetries of the body, which can cause an overload in the osteoarticular and muscular system

This can lead to functional deficits, muscular imbalances, and increased risk of injury, weakening the player's motor abilities and mental state

When assessed for pain occurring in the previous 12 months - the results where

- 48% had knee pain

- 26% had neck and shoulder pain

- 80% had low back pain

The results also showed that players with low shoulder mobility had a higher chance of having upper back pain and shoulder problems. A particular area of concern was shoulder rotation

A major predictor of pain and dysfunction was if there was any asymmetry in posture

The lower the players scored on muscle imbalance, the higher the risk of injury, with 28% of the players where now considered a risk for injury due to the imbalances.

A reason for the high number of lower back complaints was due to the abdominal muscles not maintaining control of rotation of the pelvis and spine at the L5 S1 level

This is so essential as the last lumbar vertebrae is the main one responsible for posture, and shock absorption and are most prone to a disc injury

Another good indicator for sports players is the lunge test. It requires stability and mobility in the quadriceps, flexibility, and knee stability. You also need dynamic control of the pelvis and core. Instability can lead to changes in asymmetry when comparing left and right legs. Leading to an increased risk of dysfunction and injury.

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