Endo Suzuno, Kato Kinshi, Otoshi Kenichi, Kaneko Yota, Tominaga Ryoji, Kaga Takahiro, Igari Takahiro, Sato Ryohei, Kobayashi Kenji, Konno Shin-Ichi, Matsumoto Yoshihiro
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima City, Fukushima, 960-1295, Japan.
Department of Sports Medicine, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Koriyama City, Japan.
BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2025 Mar 27;17(1):62. doi: 10.1186/s13102-025-01106-5.
Limited lower-extremity flexibility has long been debated as a physical risk factor contributing to low back pain in various populations. However, its impact on younger populations, particularly elementary school-aged softball players, remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the relationship between limited lower-extremity flexibility (iliopsoas, hamstrings, and quadriceps femoris) and low back pain in elementary school-aged softball players.
This cross-sectional study included 521 elementary school-aged softball players (469 males and 52 females; mean age, 10.7 years) who participated in annual medical evaluations from 2017 to 2019. Lower-extremity flexibility was assessed once during annual medical evaluations using the Thomas test for the iliopsoas, straight-leg-raise test for the hamstrings, and heel-to-buttock-distance test for the quadriceps. Additionally, low back pain during the previous season was evaluated through self-administered questionnaires distributed to participants and collected during medical check-ups. The prevalence of low back pain and its association with lower-extremity flexibility were investigated using univariate and multivariable analyses. In multivariable analysis, age, position, body mass index, and total practice time per week were included as explanatory factors.
Overall, 16.9% (88/521) of the players experienced low back pain that required rest during the previous year. After adjustment for confounding factors (age, position, body mass index, and total practice time per week) with a logistic regression model, low back pain showed a significant association with quadriceps muscle tightness (odds ratio: 3.15, 95% confidence interval: 1.51-6.56, P = .002).
Quadriceps femoris tightness may be a significant risk factor for low back pain in elementary school-aged softball players. These findings underscore the importance of assessing quadriceps femoris tightness to prevent low back pain in elementary school-aged softball players.
Not applicable.
长期以来，下肢灵活性受限一直被视为导致不同人群腰痛的一个身体风险因素。然而，其对较年轻人群，尤其是小学年龄段的垒球运动员的影响仍不明确。本研究旨在探讨小学年龄段垒球运动员下肢灵活性受限（髂腰肌、腘绳肌和股四头肌）与腰痛之间的关系。
这项横断面研究纳入了521名小学年龄段的垒球运动员（469名男性和52名女性；平均年龄10.7岁），他们在2017年至2019年期间参加了年度医学评估。在年度医学评估期间，使用托马斯试验评估髂腰肌的下肢灵活性，使用直腿抬高试验评估腘绳肌，使用足跟至臀部距离试验评估股四头肌。此外，通过分发给参与者并在体检时收集的自我管理问卷，评估上一赛季的腰痛情况。使用单变量和多变量分析研究腰痛的患病率及其与下肢灵活性的关联。在多变量分析中，纳入年龄、位置、体重指数和每周总训练时间作为解释因素。
总体而言，16.9%（88/521）的运动员在上一年经历了需要休息的腰痛。在使用逻辑回归模型对混杂因素（年龄、位置、体重指数和每周总训练时间）进行调整后，腰痛与股四头肌紧张度显示出显著关联（优势比：3.15，95%置信区间：1.51 - 6.56，P = 0.002）。
股四头肌紧张可能是小学年龄段垒球运动员腰痛的一个重要风险因素。这些发现强调了评估股四头肌紧张度对预防小学年龄段垒球运动员腰痛的重要性。
不适用。
