Evaluation of functional and structural changes affecting the lumbar spine in professional field hockey players

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate functional and structural changes in the lumbar spine which occurred as a consequence of playing field hockey. METHODS: The research group consisted of 20 male professional field hockey players. Computed tomography scans were collected to define the radiological density of the vertebral bodies and to calculate Young's modulus. An electrogoniometer was used to measure the range of movement. Geometric parameters, such as Lumbar Lordosis Angle, Index of Lumbar Lordosis, Whitmann-Ferguson Angle and Anterior Pelvic Tilt, were also measured. RESULTS: The values describing lumbar lordosis increased linearly with years of training and were significantly greater than those reported in the literature. Field hockey players displayed a larger range of flexion, side bending and rotation to the right. An analysis of radiological density discovered significantly high values. An analysis of Young's modulus showed that the vertebral bodies become more fragile. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that overuse changes in the lumbar spine of field hockey players are severe and highly correlated with years of training.