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A test battery to investigate back pain in female soccer players

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Abstract

Introduction

Back pain (BP) is a concern in youth and adult soccer players. Medical staff should be aware of possible consequences on health status and physical performance of players and, therefore, should screen and/or test for BP.

Objective

The purpose of the study was to assess female soccer players with and without BP in a range of tests.

Methods

18 female youth football players (eight with and ten without BP) from a Bavarian Soccer Club were assessed with a test battery consisting of patients’ history, physical examination, questionnaire, Y Balance Test (YBT), Swiss Olympic Test (SOT) and maximum isometric strength of the trunk muscles.

Results

Participants without any BP showed non-significant better performance in the SOT and the YBT. In the dynamic lateral isometric muscle strength test, patients without BP had a statistically significant (p < 0.05) better result than the other cohort.

Conclusion

Our results show that there is a tendency of the cohort without BP for better outcome. Further testing may be needed to evaluate if our test battery is eligible to investigate BP in female soccer players.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sportorthopaedic Institute, FIFA MCE Munich, Schön Klinik München Harlaching, Harlachingerstr. 51, 81547, Munich, Germany

    Thore-B Haag, Alexandra S. Schneider, Christina Beckmann, Martin Handel, Christian Schneider & H. Michael Mayer

  2. Paracelsus University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria

    H. Michael Mayer

Authors
  1. Thore-B Haag
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  2. Alexandra S. Schneider
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  3. Christina Beckmann
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  4. Martin Handel
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  5. Christian Schneider
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  6. H. Michael Mayer
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thore-B Haag.

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Conflict of interest

None.

Ethical approval

The experimental protocol was conducted according to the declaration of Helsinki.

Informed consent

An informed consent was obtained from the parents as well as informed assent from all players.

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Haag, TB., Schneider, A.S., Beckmann, C. et al. A test battery to investigate back pain in female soccer players. Sport Sci Health 12, 361–367 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-016-0296-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-016-0296-7

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