Fatigue-induced biomechanical and neuromuscular determinants of low back pain risk among youth hockey players: a crosssectional analysis

Low back pain (LBP) is a common affliction in sports, with youth athletes, particularly hockey players, facing an elevated risk due to factors such as repetitive movements, prolonged trunk flexion and fatigue. Fatigue impair the ability to maintain proper spinal alignment and effectively coordinate lower limb joint movements, thereby increasing susceptibility to LBP. Therefore, the purpose of this study aimed to identify the determinants of LBP risk before and during fatigue in youth hockey players. Methodology: Sixty males (age:14.34 ± 1.16, BMI: 19.27 ± 3.41) and Sixty females (age:14.41 ± 1.19, BMI: 19.25 ± 3.42) youth hockey players were recruited for this study. They were recruited from hockey talent high school. Functional Movement Screen (FMS) was used to indicated risk of LBP, and the possible associated factors or determinants for LBP injury risk were musculoskeletal screening tools which were pelvic kinematics (Single Leg Vertical Drop Jump), core stability (plank test), trunk extensor endurance (Sorensen test), dynamic balance (Y-Balance test) and pain scale (VAS). Data for all outcome measures were taken for PRE (before fatigue simulation), POST0 (immediately after fatigue simulation) and POST15 (15minutes after fatigue simulation). Modified Repeated Sprint Ability (RSA) that mimics hockey game was used as a fatigue simulation which consists of sprint, jog, walk, stride and agility. Simple Linear Regression and Multiple Linear Regression was performed to analyse the data statistically.