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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Sport Rehabil / Sagittal Spinal Morphotype Assessment in Dressage and Show J...
Journal of sport rehabilitation2019; 29(5); 533-540; doi: 10.1123/jsr.2018-0247

Sagittal Spinal Morphotype Assessment in Dressage and Show Jumping Riders.

Abstract: Previous research has analyzed how the sport influences sagittal spinal curvatures in young athletes and has found that spinal curves may be modified as a consequence of repeated movement patterns and postures of each discipline. Objective: To analyze sagittal spinal alignment by equestrian discipline and its relation to training load, and to describe "sagittal integrative morphotype" in young riders. Methods: Observational descriptive study. Methods: Training room. Methods: A total of 23 riders (aged 9-17 y)-13 dressage riders (3 males and 10 females) and 10 show jumping riders (5 males and 5 females)-participated voluntarily. Methods: Mann-Whitney U test was applied to determine differences between riders' characteristics (gender, discipline, and training load) and spine variables. Results: According to normality ranges for spinal curves, females showed an increase for lumbar curvature in standing position. It was found that show jumping riders manifested an increment in thoracic and lumbar curves while standing and an increase in the thoracic curvature in slump sitting. Statistically significant differences were found when lumbar curvature, "sit and reach" distance, and lumbo-horizontal angle in flexion were analyzed by gender in "sit and reach" test. No statistical significant differences were found when spinal curves in each position were analyzed depending on the training load. With regard to "sagittal integrative morphotype," all riders presented a hyperkyphotic dorsal morphotype no matter what their discipline. As for the lumbar curve, dressage and show jumping riders presented a functional hyperkyphotic morphotype. Conclusions: It is important to note that many riders presented a sagittal imbalance for the thoracic and lumbar curves. Therefore, as the sagittal spinal misalignments persist and worsen over time, exercise programs to prevent or rehabilitate these imbalances in young riders will be needed. The "sagittal integrative morphotype" assessment is an essential tool in order to identify the spinal misalignment.
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Publication Date: 2019-10-18 PubMed ID: 31034307DOI: 10.1123/jsr.2018-0247Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Observational Study

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article investigates how disciplines of horse riding such as dressage and show jumping can influence the sagittal (side-view) alignment of the spine in young riders, and the importance of exercise programs to address these imbalances.

Objective and Methodology

  • The objective of the research was to analyze the sagittal alignment of spines in young riders involved in dressage and show jumping, to understand its correlation with training load, and to identify common sagittal integrative morphotypes – a term used to describe the combined shape and alignment of the spine.
  • The researchers conducted an observational descriptive study involving 23 riders aged between 9 and 17 years, which included 13 dressage riders (3 males and 10 females) and 10 show jumping riders (5 males and 5 females).
  • The Mann-Whitney U test, a statistical tool, was applied to determine any differences between the riders’ characteristics (like gender, discipline, and training load) and variables related to the spine.

Results and Interpretation

  • The study found that within the normality ranges for spinal curves, females exhibited an increase in the curvature of the lower spine (lumbar area) when standing.
  • Show jumping riders showed an increased curvature in the middle (thoracic) and lower (lumbar) sections of the spine while standing, and an increase in the middle spine curvature when sitting in a slump.
  • There were statistically significant differences in the curvature of the lower spine, the “sit and reach” distance (a common measurement for flexibility), and the angle between the lower spine and the horizontal plane when bending forward (‘lumbo-horizontal angle in flexion’) when these were analyzed by gender in a “sit and reach” test.
  • No statistically significant differences were observed when the curvature of the spine was analyzed based on the training load – suggesting that the amount of practice didn’t significantly affect the curvature.
  • Regardless of the horse riding discipline, all riders showed a hyperkyphotic (increased curvature) dorsal (related to the back) morphotype, indicating that all riders had a pronounced spinal curvature in their upper back.
  • For the lower spine, both dressage and show jumping riders exhibited a functional hyperkyphotic morphotype – meaning that their lower spines showed an increased curvature that may have developed due to their sporting activity.

Conclusion and Recommendations

  • The researchers highlighted that a significant number of riders exhibited a sagittal imbalance in the spinal curves of the middle and lower spine.
  • The findings suggest that the spinal misalignments could persist and worsen over time, highlighting the need for exercise programs that can prevent or rehabilitate these imbalances in young riders.
  • This study underscores how the “sagittal integrative morphotype” assessment can be a valuable tool in identifying spinal misalignment in young horse riders.

Cite This Article

APA
Ginés-Díaz A, Martínez-Romero MT, Cejudo A, Aparicio-Sarmiento A, Sainz de Baranda P. (2019). Sagittal Spinal Morphotype Assessment in Dressage and Show Jumping Riders. J Sport Rehabil, 29(5), 533-540. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsr.2018-0247

Publication

Journal of sport rehabilitation
ISSN: 1543-3072
NlmUniqueID: 9206500
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 29
Issue: 5
Pages: 533-540

Researcher Affiliations

Ginés-Díaz, Angélica
    Martínez-Romero, María Teresa
      Cejudo, Antonio
        Aparicio-Sarmiento, Alba
          Sainz de Baranda, Pilar

            MeSH Terms

            • Adolescent
            • Animals
            • Child
            • Female
            • Horses
            • Humans
            • Lumbosacral Region / anatomy & histology
            • Male
            • Movement / physiology
            • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
            • Posture / physiology
            • Sex Factors
            • Sitting Position
            • Spinal Curvatures / diagnosis
            • Spine / anatomy & histology
            • Standing Position
            • Statistics, Nonparametric
            • Thoracic Vertebrae / anatomy & histology
            • Youth Sports / physiology

            Citations

            This article has been cited 14 times.
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            6. Guo H, Chen N, Yang Y, Zhou X, Li X, Jiang Y, Huang J, Du Q. Ethnic Disparity in the Incidence of Scoliosis Among Adolescents in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, China. Front Public Health 2022;10:791550.
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            7. Alvero-Cruz JR, Santonja-Medina F, Sanz-Mengibar JM, Sainz de Baranda P. The Sagittal Integral Morphotype in Male and Female Rowers. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 Dec 8;18(24).
              doi: 10.3390/ijerph182412930pubmed: 34948541google scholar: lookup
            8. Cejudo A, Centenera-Centenera JM, Santonja-Medina F. The Potential Role of Hamstring Extensibility on Sagittal Pelvic Tilt, Sagittal Spinal Curves and Recurrent Low Back Pain in Team Sports Players: A Gender Perspective Analysis. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 Aug 16;18(16).
              doi: 10.3390/ijerph18168654pubmed: 34444402google scholar: lookup
            9. Cejudo A, Centenera-Centenera JM, Santonja-Medina F. Sagittal Integral Morphotype of Competitive Amateur Athletes and Its Potential Relation with Recurrent Low Back Pain. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 Aug 4;18(16).
              doi: 10.3390/ijerph18168262pubmed: 34444009google scholar: lookup
            10. Cejudo A, Gómez-Lozano S, Sainz de Baranda P, Vargas-Macías A, Santonja-Medina F. Sagittal Integral Morphotype of Female Classical Ballet Dancers and Predictors of Sciatica and Low Back Pain. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 May 10;18(9).
              doi: 10.3390/ijerph18095039pubmed: 34068738google scholar: lookup
            11. Cejudo A, Ginés-Díaz A, Rodríguez-Ferrán O, Santonja-Medina F, Sainz de Baranda P. Trunk Lateral Flexor Endurance and Body Fat: Predictive Risk Factors for Low Back Pain in Child Equestrian Athletes. Children (Basel) 2020 Oct 9;7(10).
              doi: 10.3390/children7100172pubmed: 33050134google scholar: lookup
            12. Sainz de Baranda P, Cejudo A, Martínez-Romero MT, Aparicio-Sarmiento A, Rodríguez-Ferrán O, Collazo-Diéguez M, Hurtado-Avilés J, Andújar P, Santonja-Medina F. Sitting Posture, Sagittal Spinal Curvatures and Back Pain in 8 to 12-Year-Old Children from the Region of Murcia (Spain): ISQUIOS Programme. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020 Apr 9;17(7).
              doi: 10.3390/ijerph17072578pubmed: 32283720google scholar: lookup
            13. Santonja-Medina F, Collazo-Diéguez M, Martínez-Romero MT, Rodríguez-Ferrán O, Aparicio-Sarmiento A, Cejudo A, Andújar P, Sainz de Baranda P. Classification System of the Sagittal Integral Morphotype in Children from the ISQUIOS Programme (Spain). Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020 Apr 4;17(7).
              doi: 10.3390/ijerph17072467pubmed: 32260344google scholar: lookup
            14. Sainz de Baranda P, Cejudo A, Moreno-Alcaraz VJ, Martinez-Romero MT, Aparicio-Sarmiento A, Santonja-Medina F. Sagittal spinal morphotype assessment in 8 to 15 years old Inline Hockey players. PeerJ 2020;8:e8229.
              doi: 10.7717/peerj.8229pubmed: 31915572google scholar: lookup
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