Postural Control and Plantar Pressure Symmetry in Male and Female Athletes With Chronic Low Back Pain When Performing Overhead Squat

Background: Low Back Pain (LBP) is one of the most prevalent problems associated with sport activities. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between pain and plantar pressure variables. In addition, we compared these variables in male and female athletes with LBP. Methods: In this study, 47 participants with the age range of 18 to 25 years were selected (22 males and 25 females). Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the LBP severity. The plantar pressure variables were recorded using a plantar pressure measurement device (model: Foot pressing FDM-S) made by Zebris Company. Results: Length of minor axis (pmale= 0.020, pfemale= 0.227), length of major axis (pmale= 0.041, pfemale= 0.011), area of sway (pmale= 0.0001, pfemale= 0.007), path length (pmale= 0.053, pfemale= 0.001), velocity of sway (pmale= 0.023, pfemale= 0.008), and standard deviation X (pmale= 0.048, pfemale= 0.147) of the COP variables had a positive and significant relationship with the pain. The symmetry of plantar pressure variables did not show strong correlation with the pain intensity (p>0.05). The COP variables also showed a significant difference in area of sway (p=0.042), path length (p=0.044), and standard deviation X (p=0.043) between the males and females. Females had more oscillations than males, but there was no difference in the symmetry of plantar pressure variables between the males and females (p>0.05). Conclusion: LBP is a factor that can impair the postural control, resulting in increased risk of injury among the athletes with LBP, especially in females.