Body Mass, Nonspecific Low Back Pain, and Anatomical Changes in the Lumbar Spine in Judo Athletes

Takashi Okada, Koichi Nakazato, Kazunori Iwai, Masaru Tanabe, Kazunori Irie, Hiroyuki Nakajima

DOI: 10.2519/jospt.2007.2508

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of a specific population. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence and coprevalence of nonspecific low back pain (nsLBP) and lumbar radiological abnormalities (LRA) in judo athletes. BACKGROUND: nsLBP and LRA occur frequently in judo athletes. High body mass has been reported to be associated with both nsLBP and LRA. METHODS AND MEASURES: The subjects comprised 82 male judo athletes (mean ± SD age, 20.1 ± 0.9 years) from 3 weight categories: lightweight (n = 29), middleweight (n = 31), and heavyweight (n = 22). The presence of nsLBP was evaluated using a questionnaire. LRA were examined using plain film radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging. The prevalence of nsLBP and LRA were compared among weight categories. RESULTS: The prevalence of nsLBP in the lightweight, middleweight, and heavyweight categories was 34.5%, 32.3%, and 40.9%, respectively. For LRA, prevalence for the 3 weight categories was 65.5%, 90.3%, and 90.9%, respectively (middleweight and heavyweight greater prevalence than lightweight [P<.05]). The prevalence of LRA in athletes with nsLBP in each category was 50.0%, 100%, and 88.9%, respectively (middleweight greater prevalence than lightweight [P<.05]). The prevalence of LRA in subjects without nsLBP in each category was 73.7%, 85.7%, and 92.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of LRA was approximately 90% in the middleweight and heavyweight categories, which was greater than for the lightweight category. There was a large coprevalence of nsLBP and LRA. However, many judo athletes without nsLBP had LRA. The presence of LRA may not have a direct association with nsLBP.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2007;37(11):688-693, published online 12 July 2007. doi:10.2519/jospt.2007.2508

KEY WORDS: injury, MRI, radiographs, X rays

The prevalence of lumbar radiological abnormalities (LRA) in judo athletes was approximately 90% in the middleweight and heavyweight categories, which was greater than for the lightweight category. There was a large coprevalence of nonspecific low back pain (nsLBP) and LRA. However, many judo athletes without nsLBP had LRA. The prevalence of LRA may not have a direct association with nsLBP.

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