Examination of Non-Specific Low Back Pain, Pain Perceptions and Disability Between Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai and Boxing Athletes.

Non-specific low back pain is the leading cause of years lived with disability worldwide. The present study investigates non-specific low back pain, pain perceptions and disability due to pain among Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai and Boxing athletes. The study included 90 amateur athletes (aged 18-45 years; M = 28.97, SD = 5.88). The athletes completed the valid and reliable Pain Beliefs Perceptions Inventory (PBPI), the Quebec Pain Disability Scale (QPDS) and the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) which includes the Visual Analogue Scale (10 cm VAS 0-10 rating system) and the Present Pain Intensity index (PPI). Results: The results revealed that the majority of athletes rated their pain as low (SF-MPQ: M = 12.34, SD = 8.91; VAS: M = 1.65, SD = 1.82; PPI: M = 2.10, SD = 1.08) with low disability due to pain (QPDS: M = 18.98, SD = 22.71). Also, the majority of athletes disagreed that their pain was mysterious or persistent with high duration (PBPI: M = 1.43, SD = 2.23). Between the three martial arts, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu athletes showed statistically significantly (a) higher emotional and sensational pain intensity (x(2) = 15.73; < 0.001; x(2) = 19.34; < 0.001), (b) higher disability due to pain (x(2)= 25.30; < 0.001) and (c) more mysterious, more persistent pain with more duration (x(2)= 9.32; < 0.05) than Muay Thai and Boxing athletes. Also, a few correlations were found between age and pain perception only in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Boxing martial arts athletes. Further research is required to elucidate the biomechanical and psychological factors contributing to these differences between martial arts athletes.