Sagittal alignment of the spine: comparison between soccer players and subjects without sports activities
Wodecki, P.; Guigui, P.; Hanotel, M.C.; Cardinne, L.; Deburge, A.
Revue de Chirurgie Orthopedique et Reparatrice de l'Appareil Moteur 88(4): 328-336
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0035-1040 PMID: 12124531 Document Number: 7568
The purpose of this study was to compare the sagittal alignment of the spine in a population of soccer players and a population of volunteers with no sports activities in order to assess the effect of sports activities on stress fractures of the isthmic region. The group of athletes included 31 soccer players and the volunteer group 47 subjects with no sports activities selected from a 131 subjects database. The two groups were matched for sex and age. All athletes were licensed members of a soccer club and participated in regular sports activities at a moderate level (at least 4 hours per week for at least 2 years). Plain radiographs of the entire spine (lateral view) in the same reference position were obtained for all subjects. The following parameters were recorded: thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, sacral tilt, anteversion of the pelvis, sagittal alignment. The following morphology data were also recorded in this exclusively male population: weight, height, arm spread. Considering the other radiographic parameters, the sagittal alignment of the spine was comparable between the two groups. However, the statistical analysis demonstrated that the distribution of the spinal and pelvic parameters was different between the athletic and the non-athletic subjects. In athletes, spinal alignment was achieved by a less pronounced thoracic kyphosis and a more pronounced angle, sacral tilt and lumbar lordosis. The particular spinal morphology observed in soccer players is comparable with that described in the literature for patients with or treated for spondylolisthesis with isthmic lysis.
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