Lower back pain scale and return to sports in elite Taekwondo athletes with lower back injuries

Abstract Objectives This study compares back pain scale, functionality, and ability to return to sport according to sex for Taekwondo athletes with lower back injuries. Methods The study included 52 elite adolescent Taekwondo athletes (26 in both male and female groups), who participated in advanced competitions at a training camp between January and December 2021. The lower back pain scale, Modified Oswestry Disability Index, isokinetic muscular function, and recovery time according to sex were assessed using an independent sample t-test. Pearson's correlation and simple linear regression analyses were used to evaluate the correlation between variables, and identify factors associated with pain. Results The lower back pain scale (p=0.003) and recovery time (p=0.018) significantly differed between the sexes. In all athletes, the pain scale was significantly correlated with the Modified Oswestry Disability Index (p<0.001) and recovery time (p<0.001). For each point increase in the pain scale, the Modified Oswestry Disability Index increased by 3.01 (p=0.001) and 3.25 (p=0.013) for males and females, respectively. In addition, recovery time increased by 1.70 days (p<0.001) and 1.98 days (p<0.001) in males and females, respectively. Conclusion These results may help generate the data needed to develop rehabilitation programs that improve an athlete’s performance.