Department of Sports Medicine and Sports Nutrition, Ruhr University Bochum presented the research results according to which the rowers are susceptible to back pain at different spinal locations.

The study conducted by Katharina Trompeter and colleagues was aimed (a) to evaluate the back pain prevalence among rowers at varying levels of competition and rowing typologies than the non-rowing control group; (b) to discover distinct time periods, location on the spine, and several pain features; and (c) to assess diverse risk factors responsible for back pain.

A validated and standardized online back pain questionnaire was given to the participants. On the whole 166 controls and 156 rowers completed the survey. There prevalence of back pain and severity was found to be higher in rowers and sculls than controls and sweep rowers. The primary area of pain manifested by both rowers and controls was the lower back.

The incidence of back pain was affected by sex, age and training volume. Ergometer training, rowing kinematics, and strength were the principal associated risk factors for back pain in rowers. Thus, future training programs should be monitored to avoid different types of back pain and injuries.