Range of motion of hip joints of male university kendo practitioners with lower back pain

Abstract

Kendo practitioners often suffer from left low back pain. The present study was undertaken to analyze the features of range of motion (ROM) of the hip joint of kendo practitioners and their relation to prevention of lower back pain. [Subjects and Methods] The study involved 37 male university kendo practitioners: 26 kendo practitioners having a history of lower back pain, 11 kendo practitioners having no history of lower back pain. In accordance with the method of ROM measurement set forth by the Japanese Orthopaedic Association, the same examiner measured hip joint ROM during passive flexion/extension and internal/external rotation. [Results] In the low back pain group, no laterality was noted in the ROM of the external rotation. However, ROM of the internal rotation was significantly smaller on the left side than on the right side. The range of rotation was significantly smaller on the left side than on the right side. [Conclusion] The ROM of hip rotation on the left side was significantly diminished (less than 90 degrees) only in the low back pain group, and the laterality in ROM of left hip rotation was significantly greater in the low back pain group than in the non-low back pain group (p<0.05). These findings suggest that small ROM of left hip rotation is a factor responsible for the onset of lower back pain.