2018 Volume 43 Issue 2 Pages 89-96
PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the possibility of early return to sports for athletes with adolescent spondylolysis using exercise therapy after initial assessment of lower limb muscle tightness.
SUBJECTS and METHODS: This study included 17 subjects who played high-school sports. All had adolescent spondylolysis （Category I: 14 men, 3 women; average age 14.1 years, age range 12-17 years）, and were devided into Group A （without muscle tightness） and Group B （with tightness）, using 3 evaluation criteria: finger-to-floor distance （FFD, more or less than 0 cm）, straight leg raising （SLR, more or less than 70°）, and gastrocnemius flexibility （ankle dorsiflexion angle when standing with knees extended, more or less than 45°）. The duration until return to playing sports was examined. Additionally, 27 elite high-school soccer athletes without a history of low-back pain （Category II: all were 15 years old） were assessed upon enrollment in school and were compared with Category I for muscle flexibility.
RESULTS: In Category I, there was no significant difference in muscle tightness and the duration until return to sports activities between Group A and Group B. However, between Category I and II, there was a significant difference in muscle flexibility （especially for FFD and SLR）.
DISCUSSION: It is essential to alleviate tightness in the lower limb muscles using exercise therapy, as shown by a significant difference in muscle flexibility between Category I and II.
CONCLUSION: This study suggests that lower extremity stretching to gain muscle flexibility is effective for athletes with spondylolysis.
