Comparison of Trunk Muscle Strength of Soccer Players with and without Low Back Pain

Aim of the Study: Low back pain in soccer players is one of the frequently appearing disorders caused by overuse. Myogenic dysbalances are under discussion as possible reason for this problem. In the present study the muscular strength profile of the trunk musculature of soccer players with and without low back pain was evaluated. The results of the asymptomatic players were compared to those of players with low back pain; furthermore, the collected data were compared to those of an asymptomatic reference group. The question posed was whether soccer players show a specific strength profile caused by the special, sports-specific requirements and whether this strength profile differs between players with and without low back pain. Method: In the present study the isometric maximal strength of 18 soccer players with and 18 soccer players without low back pain was measured in all 3 planes. The reference group was provided by the Proxomed (R) company, which had previously analysed 1045 healthy untrained individuals of various age groups. Results: The soccer players showed a sport-specific profile for the musculature, which was determined by a significant reduction of the flexion and rotation strength (flex: phi 5.21 N/kg vs. phi 6.49 N/kg; phi 5.78 N/kg vs. phi 6.66 N/kg respectively; rotation: left 7.09 N/kg, right 8.69 N/kg vs. left/right 10.1 N/kg; left 7.22 N/kg, right 8.24 N/ kg vs. left/right 10.0 N/kg, respectively) as well as by an increased lateral flexion strength to the right-hand side in comparison to the reference group (lat. flex. right: 9.87 N/kg, respectively, 10.67 N/kg vs. 8.3 N/kg). A statistically significant correlation between the muscular activitiy in the trunk stability of soccer players with and without low back pain could not be shown. Conclusion: Obviously sports-specific training with additional specific training of the trunk muscles is not sufficient for the development of a balanced strength of trunk musculature. In the present study an influence of the performance of the trunk musculature on the incidence of low back pain could not be shown.