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The Effect of Repeated Rotations on the Lumbar Spine in Professional Tennis Players: A Literature Review

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

1 Professor, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran

2 PhD Candidate in Sports Injury and Corrective Exercises, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

3 PhD in Sports Injury and Corrective Exercises, Department of Sports Injury and Corrective Exercises, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

10.30476/smsj.2025.104184.1565

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to review the scientific literature on the effect of repeated rotations on the lumbar spine in professional tennis players and to provide a comprehensive summary of previous research.
Methods: A literature review was conducted using the following databases and motor searches: Google Scholar, Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, SID, Iranmedex, and Magiran. The search terms included “spinal curvature”, “lumbar rotation”, and “tennis”. The search was limited to studies published between 2000 and January 2024.
Results: Out of 2,500 studies initially identified, 95 abstracts were selected for review, and 12 studies were ultimately included in this research. These studies investigated the effects of repeated rotations on the lumbar spine in professional tennis players. The findings indicated that various tennis techniques increased the intensity of lumbar rotation over time, predisposing players to low back pain and other lumbar spine injuries.
Conclusion: Repeated rotations of the lumbar spine over time could lead to low back pain in professional tennis players. This was likely due to the gradual increase in flexibility of the lumbopelvic segments relative to the stiffness of the hip joint segments, resulting in excessive premature movement in the lumbopelvic region. Therefore, interventions focusing on controlled physical activity, core muscle strengthening, proprioceptive improvement, and the correction of repetitive movement patterns in tennis players might effectively reduce the incidence of low back pain.

Keywords

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Sadra Medical Journal
Volume 13, Issue 1
January 2025
Pages 192-202
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