Analysis of the relationship between low back pain and jiu-jitsu: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: Jiu-jitsu is a contact sport with great physical demand, which presents a high prevalence of injuries in its practitioners. Low back pain (LBP) is among the most common problems in sport, however there are some gaps in the literature regarding its relationship with the practice of jiu-jitsu. Objective: To identify the prevalence and factors associated with LBP in recreational jiu-jitsu practitioners. Methods: This is a cross-sectional and analytical observational study, carried out using an online form, containing information related to the practice of jiu-jitsu and injury history. The chi-square test was used to analyze the association between variables and Poisson regression with robust estimation to determine the prevalence ratio for variables with more than two categories, considering significant values of p < 0.05. Results: One hundred three jiu-Jitsu practitioners participated, 72.8% male and 27.2% female, with an average age of 29 years. The prevalence of LBP among practitioners was 49%. There was no association with low back pain and preferred position in jiu-jitsu practitioners. Conclusion: Factors such as length of practice and previous episode of low back pain appear to be associated with a higher prevalence of low back pain in jiu-jitsu practitioners. Furthermore, practitioners believe that performing jiu-jitsu can be a protective factor for low back pain episodes.