title: The prevalence, incidence and severity of low back pain among international-level rowers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is a paucity of prospective cohort studies investigating the incidence of low back pain (LBP) in rowing. We investigated (1) the prevalence and incidence of LBP among international-level rowers in New Zealand, (2) the relationship between training volume and LBP and (3) the effect of LBP on rowers' ability to train and compete.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective cohort study of 76 New Zealand representative rowers, including 46 men (mean age 22, SD=4) and 30 women (mean age 21, SD=4). Data were collected using an online questionnaire repeated monthly for 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of LBP ranged from 6% to 25% throughout the year. The incidence of episodes of LBP was 1.67 per 1000 exposure-hours. A total of 72 episodes of LBP were reported by 40 rowers (53%) during 12 months. Of these, 45% had an incidental effect on training. 29% minor, 18% moderate and 9% had a major effect as determined by the length of time the training was interrupted. There was a high correlation between new LBP and total training hours per month (r=0.83, p<0.01). A previous history of LBP was a risk factor in developing new LBP (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.22 to 3.48, p=0.01). Age was also a risk factor, with the likelihood of developing LBP increasing for every year (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.15, p=0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LBP is common among New Zealand representative rowers. There is a high correlation between training load and the development of LBP.
authors: High Performance Sport NZ, Rowing NZ High Performance Centre, Cambridge, New Zealand.
authors: Craig
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0179-1353
authors: C
authors: Newlands
authors: Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors: Duncan
authors: D
authors: Reid
authors: Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors: Priya
authors: P
authors: Parmar
mesh_terms: D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D009326:Naval Medicine; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Back injuries; Epidemiology; Injury; Rowing