Lesiones, morfotipo sagital de la columna vertebral, perfil de flexibilidad de la extremidad inferior y dolor de espalda en jugadores de hockey linea

Abstract

Inline hockey is an exciting, fast-paced game similar to ice hockey from which it developed in the late 1980s. Currently, inline hockey is played in many countries throughout the world and has become a popular sport for both men and women in many regions of Spain. Participation in inline hockey in Spain continues to increase and more than 5564 participants were registered in 2018. In the season 2017-2018, 142 teams and 2414 inline hockey players were participating in National Inline Hockey League. Inline hockey has specific requirements for players, which include sustained trunk flexion posture and high force production required for proper technique and propulsion for the execution of skating stride. This creates unique demands on the athlete's body that are not replicated in most other sports. This inherent physical demand makes these athletes susceptible to certain postural and structural adaptations which may result in subsequent injuries and back pain. Currently, there is a lack of research regarding injuries occurring during inline hockey, musculoskeletal and postural adaptations on inline hockey player's body, risk factors of injury and strategies of prevention. Objectives: The purpose of this study was: 1) to describe the most common injuries, postural disorders, muscle imbalances, and prevalence of back pain in Spanish inline hockey players; 2) to identify risk factors of injury; 3) to establish recommendations for injury prevention. Method: A total of 246 inline hockey players (205 males and 41 females; aged 8 to 45 years) from various Spanish inline hockey teams participating in different hockey leagues, including men and women Spanish National Team participating in inline hockey World Championship, Nanjing 2017, gave their consent to participate in this study. Inline hockey injuries were recorded on standardized injury report form. Back pain data were recorded on validated, standardized and internationally accepted questionnaires. The flexibility of lower extremity data was obtained using a standardized measurement approach (ROM-SPORT). Sagittal integrative spine morphotype was obtained in a relaxed standing position, slump sitting position and maximum flexion of the trunk. For the measurement of lower extremity ROM and sagittal spinal curvatures, an ISOMED Unilevel inclinometer (Portland, Oregon) was used with an extendable telescopic rod (Gerhardt, Cocchiarella, & Lea, 2002), a metal goniometer with long arm (Baseline¿ Stainless) and "lumbosant" -lumbar support- to standardize the lumbar curvature. Results: The most common injury was the ankle sprain. Non-contact skating was the most common mechanism of injury. Muscular imbalances, such as tightness and structural asymmetries, were shown in 100% of inline hockey players. There were significant differences by sex. Inline hockey players demonstrated postural disorders in the spinal sagittal plane, particularly in slumped sitting and maximal flexion of the trunk. Back pain, especially low back pain, was common in inline hockey players. Age, muscle imbalances, wearing a visor, player contact, puck contact, stick contact, and board contact were identified as risk factors of injury. Recommendations for injury prevention include a preseason screening examination of the musculoskeletal system, flexibility, and strength training of the main muscles involved in skating; proprioceptive work (muscular coordination, balance); increasing the inline rink size, and mandatory use of full face shields. Conclusions: Inline hockey causes specific physiological and musculoskeletal adaptations on an athlete's body. This represents the first study which describes the most common injuries, the muscular imbalances, the spinal alignment in the sagittal plane, and the prevalence of low back pain in inline hockey players. This information has practical implications for inline hockey coaches, athletes, parents, equipment manufacturers, and rehabilitation professionals. Future studies are needed to identify risk factors and implement evidence-based interventions to reduce the risk of hockey-related injuries.