ABSTRACT
Rhythmic gymnastics requires high hypermobility of the lumbar spine. Training in particular involves great concern about extreme positions and repetitive lumbar hyperextensions. Repetitive loading causes mostly an abnormality in the posterior elements of the spine. Low back pain is an extremely common complaint in competitive gymnasts and these athletes are at risk formultiple potential structural injuries to the spine. The true significance of early degenerative findings of the lumbar disc is not known (Harrison et al., 2005). The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of trunk posture on the disc height in thoracal and lumbar spine in gymnasts with and without low back pain (LBP), because the relationship between trunk posture and stresses acting on the intervertebral disc is not well understood.
