Sagittal back motion of college football athletes and nonathletes.
METHODS
The study was designed as an ex post facto study using volunteers.


OBJECTIVE
To compare sagittal back motion of male college athletes with that of nonathletes and to compare data from both groups with normative data.


BACKGROUND
Few studies have evaluated athletic demands on the spine. Much of the information on athletic demands comes from electromyographic studies, flexibility comparisons, and lift task studies. Although these studies provide a basis for back testing and evaluation, they do not present direct evidence of athletic low back performance.


METHODS
Fifteen male college football athletes and 15 male college nonathletes volunteered for testing using the IsoStation B-200 BSCAN 2.0 protocol (Isotechnologies, Inc., Hillsborough, NC). Measures were recorded for range of motion, isometric flexion and extension, and moderate and high dynamic flexion and extension. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance.


RESULTS
The results of Hotelling's multivariate test were significant. Univariate follow-up analysis showed that athletes had significantly better isometric flexion, isometric extension, moderate dynamic flexion, high dynamic flexion, and high dynamic extension. Athletic data were compared with the BSCAN population data at the 50th and 80th percentile. Athletes were significantly better (P < 0.007) for all variables at the 50th percentile and for all dynamic variables at the 80th percentile.


CONCLUSIONS
Within the limitations of the study, college football athletes had better sagittal back motion strength and speed as tested with the B-200 than nonathletes. Population data for the B-200 were representative for nonathletes but nonrepresentative for football players.
Strong
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Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Central Arkansas, Conway, USA.
Titlow
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001415:Back / Q000502:physiology*; D005538:Football / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology