ARTICLE –
abstractAssessment
and determinants of lumbar flexibility in athlete and non-athlete
university undergraduates Adebimpe O. Obembe, Chidozie E. Mbada, Oluwagbenga E. Ogunbowale Department of Medical Rehabilitation, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile – Ife, Nigeria
Abstract
Introduction.
Reference database for lumbar spine range of motion (ROM) may serve as
rehabilitation outcome tool and also help to recognize decreased spinal
ROM that may impede sport participation and performance in athletes.
This study aimed to establish normative values and determinants of
lumbar spinal ROM in athletes and non-athletes undergraduates. Materials and Methods.
240 (120 athletes and 120 non-athletes) university undergraduates whose
ages ranged between 18 and 37 years volunteered for the study. The
athlete group were recruited from the judo, taekwondo, football and
basketball teams of the university. Dual inclinometric technique was
used to measure spinal ROM in forward flexion (FF), extension (Ext),
right lateral flexion (RLF) and left lateral flexion (LLF). Data was
analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics at 0.05 alpha
level. Results. The athletes and non-athletes were comparable in age
(p=0.787). The mean value for FF, Ext, RLF and LLF was 49.4+11.3˚,
19.8+9.51˚, 18.0+10.8˚ for athletes and 17.7+5.25˚; and 40.7+13.12˚,
15.7+8.04˚, 18.3+7.26˚ and 15.5+5.17˚ for non-athletes respectively.
Athletes had significantly higher FF, Ext and LLF (p<0.05). Spinal
ROMs were higher among female athletes and non-athletes compared with
their male counterparts (p<0.05). There was a significant difference
in FF (p=0.009) and LLF (p=0.010) among the different sport
types. Significant correlations were found between limb length
and each of FF (r = -0.338, p = 0.001) and Ext (r = -0.248, p = 0.006)
among athletes, while there was a significant correlation between FF
and body weight (r = 0.605, p = 0.040) among non-athletes. Conclusion.
Lumbar spine flexibility was significantly greater in athletes than
non-athletes. Both athlete and non-athlete females had higher lumbar
spine flexibility than their male counterparts. Degree of forward and
left lateral flexion seems to have sport-specific propensity. Limb
length and body weight were determinants of lumbar spine
flexibility.
Key
words:athletes, dual inclinometer, non-athletes, normative data, spinal flexibility.
Full
article:
Assessment and determinants of lumbar flexibility in athlete and non-athlete university undergraduates
|