Physical Factors Associated With Chronic Low Back Pain in Collegiate Baseball Players: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract

Context: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is common among baseball players. However, physical factors associated with CLBP in collegiate players remain unclear. This study aimed to identify these factors.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included collegiate baseball players. Of the 153 players surveyed, 118 were included in the final analysis (29 with CLBP and 89 without CLBP). Based on questionnaire responses, players were classified into CLBP and non-low back pain groups. Body composition, trunk flexibility, hip range of motion, trunk muscle strength, and baseball-related training loads were assessed. Groups were compared using appropriate parametric or nonparametric tests, effect sizes were calculated, and multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with CLBP.

Results: The prevalence of CLBP was 18.9%. Compared with the non-low back pain group, the CLBP group demonstrated significantly reduced standing trunk flexion and lead-leg hip internal rotation with small effect sizes. In the multivariate analysis adjusted for body mass index, reduced standing trunk flexion (odds ratio = 0.94; 95% CI, 0.889-0.997) and reduced lead-leg hip internal rotation (odds ratio = 0.93; 95% CI, 0.877-1.000) were independently associated with CLBP.

Conclusions: Reduced trunk flexion and limited lead-leg hip internal rotation were associated with CLBP in collegiate baseball players, suggesting the usefulness of assessing trunk and hip mobility in identifying affected players.