Prevalence of contralateral low back pain in volleyball players

Abstract

Background - Although there aren't many contact injuries in volleyball, the lower back is still a frequently overlooked injury site. Unbalanced rotatory and extension movements of the spine, heavy single-leg landings, and repetitive overhead activities are all part of the game. The spinal stabilizing muscles, especially the multifidus, are subjected to excessive strain because of these biomechanical demands. Hand abduction and spiking motions in volleyball engage the contralateral trunk muscles, which can cause muscle fatigue and subsequent pain if they are repeatedly strained. Furthermore, landing on the dominant side with one leg puts excessive strain on the contralateral lumbar area. Despite these mechanical pressures in industries less is understood with contralateral low back pain (CLBP). Finding out how widespread CLBP is among volleyball players and looking at any potential links to hand dominance and playing mechanics are the goals of this study.

Methodolgy- Based on qualifying criteria, 120 participants were selected after institutional ethics committee approval. Consent was given by each participant. Each participant was given a Google Form questionnaire along with a printed copy. The collected data constituted the basis for the statistical analysis that followed.

Result- Numerous volleyball players reported experiencing contralateral low back pain, which usually affects the side opposite the main spiking arm. The pain, which varied in intensity, was found to affect the performance of different athletes. A statistical examination of the relationship between hand dominance and the prevalence of contralateral low back pain revealed a significant correlation (p < 0.05), indicating that repetitive sports movements could be a contributing reason to this pattern of discomfort.

Conclusion The results of the study show that contralateral low back pain is common among volleyball players and is particularly associated with repetitive motions such as spiking and single-leg landings. Significant correlations between hand dominance and the side of low back pain suggest that biomechanical stress on the opposing side of the dominant arm contributes to the development of pain. These results highlight the need for targeted preventive interventions and conditioning programs to reduce risk and enhance sports performance.