ABSTRACT

Participation in certain sports has been investigated as a potential contributor to low-back problems (LBP) (Sward et al., 1991; Verni et al., 1999; Bono, 2004). Bono (2004) revealed prevalence rates of LBP ranging from 1% to more than 30% among athletes (Bono, 2004). Alpine skiing (Peacock et al., 2005), cross-country skiing (Bahr et al., 2004), triathlon (Villavicencio et al., 2006), (elite) rhythmic gymnastics (Hutchinson, 1999), running (Woolf and Glaser, 2004), wrestling (Granhead and Morelli, 1988), weight-lifting (Granhead and Morelli, 1988), rowing (Hickey et al., 1997), tennis (Saraux et al., 1999) and golf (Hosea and Gatt, 1996) are associated with particular high prevalence rates (Table 1). Yet prevalence rates of LBP among many other sports and among more recreational athletes (Bono, 2004) are not well known.