High Prevalence of Low Back Pain in College Rifle Athletes
# Background The sport of rifle places unique physical demands on its athletes relative to other collegiate sports, including maintaining lumbar-straining positions for extended time. Anecdotal reports of low back pain (LBP) are common among collegiate rifle athletes, but the prevalence of LBP in t...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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North American Sports Medicine Institute
2025-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.127385 |
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| _version_ | 1825197112725340160 |
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| author | Bailey Urbach Cody Mansfield Mica Harr Matthew S. Briggs James Onate Laura Boucher |
| author_facet | Bailey Urbach Cody Mansfield Mica Harr Matthew S. Briggs James Onate Laura Boucher |
| author_sort | Bailey Urbach |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | # Background
The sport of rifle places unique physical demands on its athletes relative to other collegiate sports, including maintaining lumbar-straining positions for extended time. Anecdotal reports of low back pain (LBP) are common among collegiate rifle athletes, but the prevalence of LBP in this population has not yet been established in the literature.
# Purpose
The purpose of this study was to survey collegiate rifle athletes to quantify the prevalence and impact of low back pain in this population and identify possible contributing factors including the COVID-19 pandemic. It was hypothesized that over 50% of athletes would report an episode of LBP due to participation in collegiate rifle events.
# Study Design
Cross-Sectional Study
# Methods
Athletes at least 18 years of age who were members of a collegiate rifle program during the 2019-2020 season were surveyed via an online questionnaire. The questionnaire included four sections: (a) demographics, (b) presence of LBP, (c) the impact of pain episodes on daily activities, and (d) shooting stance and training characteristics.
# Results
Responses from 114 athletes were collected. A total of 101 (89%) respondents indicated having experienced at least one episode of LBP. Of those, 24% also missed at least one day of training or competition during the 2019-2020 season because of LBP. During the COVID-19 pandemic, 60% were unable to receive the same level of medical care while 69% experienced equal or greater pain levels. An association between sex and LBP was statistically significant (p<0.001).
# Conclusion
There is a high prevalence of LBP in collegiate rifle athletes. It is necessary for Athletic Training staff and other medical professionals to be aware of this for prevention and treatment, as it has significant impacts including missed playing time. More research on predisposing factors such as sex and training duration or positional characteristics would benefit management of this injury.
# Level of Evidence
3 |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a497447964a0480e86ac5a66bd083668 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2159-2896 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | North American Sports Medicine Institute |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy |
| spelling | doaj-art-a497447964a0480e86ac5a66bd0836682025-02-11T20:27:03ZengNorth American Sports Medicine InstituteInternational Journal of Sports Physical Therapy2159-28962025-01-01201High Prevalence of Low Back Pain in College Rifle AthletesBailey UrbachCody MansfieldMica HarrMatthew S. BriggsJames OnateLaura Boucher# Background The sport of rifle places unique physical demands on its athletes relative to other collegiate sports, including maintaining lumbar-straining positions for extended time. Anecdotal reports of low back pain (LBP) are common among collegiate rifle athletes, but the prevalence of LBP in this population has not yet been established in the literature. # Purpose The purpose of this study was to survey collegiate rifle athletes to quantify the prevalence and impact of low back pain in this population and identify possible contributing factors including the COVID-19 pandemic. It was hypothesized that over 50% of athletes would report an episode of LBP due to participation in collegiate rifle events. # Study Design Cross-Sectional Study # Methods Athletes at least 18 years of age who were members of a collegiate rifle program during the 2019-2020 season were surveyed via an online questionnaire. The questionnaire included four sections: (a) demographics, (b) presence of LBP, (c) the impact of pain episodes on daily activities, and (d) shooting stance and training characteristics. # Results Responses from 114 athletes were collected. A total of 101 (89%) respondents indicated having experienced at least one episode of LBP. Of those, 24% also missed at least one day of training or competition during the 2019-2020 season because of LBP. During the COVID-19 pandemic, 60% were unable to receive the same level of medical care while 69% experienced equal or greater pain levels. An association between sex and LBP was statistically significant (p<0.001). # Conclusion There is a high prevalence of LBP in collegiate rifle athletes. It is necessary for Athletic Training staff and other medical professionals to be aware of this for prevention and treatment, as it has significant impacts including missed playing time. More research on predisposing factors such as sex and training duration or positional characteristics would benefit management of this injury. # Level of Evidence 3https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.127385 |
| spellingShingle | Bailey Urbach Cody Mansfield Mica Harr Matthew S. Briggs James Onate Laura Boucher High Prevalence of Low Back Pain in College Rifle Athletes International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy |
| title | High Prevalence of Low Back Pain in College Rifle Athletes |
| title_full | High Prevalence of Low Back Pain in College Rifle Athletes |
| title_fullStr | High Prevalence of Low Back Pain in College Rifle Athletes |
| title_full_unstemmed | High Prevalence of Low Back Pain in College Rifle Athletes |
| title_short | High Prevalence of Low Back Pain in College Rifle Athletes |
| title_sort | high prevalence of low back pain in college rifle athletes |
| url | https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.127385 |
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