Sport Activities May Be Linked To Disc Degeneration
June 10th, 2009
According to a recent Japanese study, elite athletes who train many years from childhood on, are at risk for degenerative disc disease (DDD). Risk factors include participation in strenous sports activities with a certain posture and actions. A bout of severe low back pain during youth may also be a predictive factor of disc degeneration.
Repetitive physical loading of the lumbar spine varies with different competitive sports activities. Other studies have shown that the incidence of DDD is higher in elite gymnasts, weight lifters, and soccer players. Frequent trunk rotation, jumps, kick motions, and repetitive flexion and extension of the spine may account for the forces leading up to disc degeneration.
Data was analyzed and compared between the two groups (athletes and nonathletes). As mentioned, the baseball players and swimmers had the highest rate of DDD. All sports groups had higher rates of low back pain compared with the nonathletic group. Almost half of the group who reported low back pain also had degenerative disc disease. The more severe the back pain, the higher the likelihood of DDD. It is interesting to note that runners did not seem affected by degenerative disc disease.
If you’re looking for a solution to improve your spinal health, please call our Mississauga chiropractic office to find out how chiropractors can help with spinal problems such as degenerative disc disease.
Source: The American Journal of Sports Medicine. January 2009
Entry Filed under: General