Spinal Region Prevalence of Angle Trunk Rotation in Adolescent Male Soccer Players: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background

Spinal asymmetries and postural deviations are common concerns in young athletes, particularly those engaged in sports requiring repetitive and asymmetrical movements. Soccer, as a dynamic sport, involves high levels of trunk rotation, rapid directional changes, and frequent loading asymmetry, which may predispose players to spinal deviations. This study aimed to investigate the regional prevalence of primary and secondary angle trunk rotation (ATR) in adolescent male soccer players across different age groups.

Methods

A total of 502 male participants (291 soccer players and 211 nonathletes) aged 11 to 14 years were included in the study. Participants underwent scoliosis screening using a scoliometer following Adam's forward bending test. ATR measurements were recorded at the thoracic and lumbar spinal regions, with primary ATR (ATR-A) and secondary ATR (ATR-B) assessed separately. A chi-square test (χ2) evaluated the association between training level and the regional prevalence of ATR across different age groups.

Results

No significant differences were observed in the regional prevalence of ATR-A and ATR-B in the 11-year-old group. However, by age 12, significant differences emerged in ATR-A prevalence (χ2(3) = 16.469, p = 0.001), while ATR-B remained nonsignificant (χ2(2) = 4.040, p = 0.133). In the 13- and 14-year-old groups, significant associations were found for both ATR-A (χ2(3) = 57.219, p < 0.001; χ2(4) = 34.157, p < 0.001) and ATR-B (χ2(3) = 31.481, p < 0.001; χ2(2) = 17.805, p < 0.001), with moderate to strong effect sizes.

Conclusions

While no significant differences were observed in younger players, 13- and 14-year-old soccer players exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of ATR than nonathletes. The findings suggest that soccer players exhibited a higher prevalence of spinal asymmetries, particularly in older age groups, with lumbar ATR being more pronounced. The study highlights an increasing trend of spinal asymmetries with training level among young soccer players, likely due to the cumulative effects of asymmetric movement patterns. These findings emphasize the need for early detection and corrective interventions to mitigate potential long-term musculoskeletal imbalances in adolescent soccer players.