Clinical trial NCT06890845: Body Posture, Joint Mobility, and Trunk Muscle Endurance Related to Lower Back Pain in Tennis Players
Official title: Body Posture, Joint Range of Motion and Trunk Muscle Endurance in Relation to Low Back Pain in Tennis Players
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Conditions: Low Back Pain
Keywords: low back pain, tennis, ROM, muscle endurance, posture
Lead sponsor: Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2025-03-24
Enrollment: 106
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 50
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Observational model: COHORT
Time perspective: CROSS_SECTIONAL
Sampling method: PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: Participants were recruited through announcements in tennis clubs, on internet portals, and on social media platforms within groups for amateur tennis players.

Brief summary: The aim of this study was to determine the significance of the impact of external factors (self-evaluation of the subjects) and internal factors, including the range of motion in the spine and hip joints, trunk muscle endurance and body posture of tennis players, on the occurrence and severity of low back pain.

Detailed description: The aim of the study was to compare tennis players with and without lower back pain (LBP) and individuals not engaged in asymmetric sports without LBP in terms of spinal flexion, extension, lateral bending range of motion, hip joint flexion, extension, internal and external rotation, modified seat and reach test results, trunk muscle endurance, body posture parameters, and survey information regarding training volume and stretching exercises. Identifying significant differences between participants with and without LBP could provide indications for modifying rehabilitation programs for amateur tennis players with LBP or for introducing preventive exercises targeting factors significantly influencing the occurrence of LBP in this population. Prior to the study, participants provided written consent and were informed of their right to withdraw from the study at any time.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* provided written consent to participate in the study

For Study Group:

* playing tennis at least 3 times per week for the past 2 years
* experiencing back pain in the last 6 months that prevented playing tennis

For Comprarison Group I:

* playing tennis at least 3 times per week for the past 2 years
* no lower back pain (confirmed via survey) in the last 6 months that would have prevented playing tennis

For Comparison Group II:

* no lower back pain (confirmed via survey)
* regular physical activity at least 3 times a week
* no participation in asymmetrical sports

Exclusion Criteria:

* lack of written consent to participate in the study,
* history of surgical procedures involving the spine or torso,
* severe musculoskeletal pathologies in the medical history, such as previous cancers in the torso area, vertebral fractures, structural scoliosis,
* inability to assume the required test positions.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Hip range of motion
timeFrame: Baseline
measure: Spine range of motion
timeFrame: Baseline
measure: Modified sit and reach test
timeFrame: Baseline
measure: Body posture
timeFrame: Baseline
measure: Trunk muscle endurance
timeFrame: Baseline
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Oswestry Disability Index
timeFrame: Baseline
measure: Custom survey for individuals not playing tennis
timeFrame: Baseline
measure: Custom survey for tennis players
timeFrame: Baseline
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Warsaw
country: Poland
facility: Mirai Clinic
Study officials:
References:
citation: Avman MA, Osmotherly PG, Snodgrass S, Rivett DA. Is there an association between hip range of motion and nonspecific low back pain? A systematic review. Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2019 Jul;42:38-51. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2019.03.002. Epub 2019 Mar 30.
citation: Chun SW, Lim CY, Kim K, Hwang J, Chung SG. The relationships between low back pain and lumbar lordosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Spine J. 2017 Aug;17(8):1180-1191. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2017.04.034. Epub 2017 May 2.