Open Access
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Sports Med Int Open 2021; 05(01): E14-E21
DOI: 10.1055/a-1303-2741
Orthopedics & Biomechanics

Weight Category-dependent Trunk Muscle Strength and its Relation with LBP in Elite Judokas

Authors

  • Takashi Okada

    1   Faculty of Sport Science, Nippon Sport Science University, Setagaya-ku, Japan
  • Takayoshi Hakkaku

    2   Department of Judo therapy, Japan Health and Medical College, Taito-ku, Japan
  • Kazunori Iwai

    3   Department of Athletics (Wrestling),Western University, London, Canada
  • Koichi Nakazato

    4   Graduate School of Health and Sport Science, Nippon Sport Science University, Setagaya-ku, Japan
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Abstract

Trunk muscle strength (TMS), especially rotator, is an important factor for both athletic performance and injury risks in judokas. However, the characteristics of TMS that depend on weight categories are still unclear. Although inadequate TMS might cause low back pain (LBP), the relationship between these two variables is not fully understood. In this study, weight category-dependent TMS and its relationship with LBP was investigated in Japanese judokas. The subjects were 66 male collegiate judokas, who were classified into the lightweight (N=14), middleweight (N=29) or heavyweight (N=23) category. The peak torques of extensor, flexor and rotator muscles were measured. The LBP group and non-LBP group were defined by questionnaire. TMS (normalized by body weight) in the heavier weight category showed a lower tendency in comparison with other categories, except for rotator strength. Significant differences were observed in the extensors (90 and 120 °/s; P<0.05) and flexors (60, 90 and 120 °/s; P<0.05). The LBP group (N=9) only showed significantly lower extensor (60 °/s; P<0.05) and right-rotator (60 °/s; P<0.01) strength in the heavyweight category compared with the non-LBP group (N=14). The relative TMS of judokas decreased in the heavyweight category, except for trunk rotator strength. Notably, low trunk extensor and rotator strengths are risk factors for LBP in heavyweight judokas.



Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 10. September 2020

Angenommen nach Revision: 03. November 2020

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
16. Dezember 2020

© 2020. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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