Comparison of the Degree of Hip Rotation Between Amateur Golfers With Low Back Pain and Matched Desk-Bound Individuals in Ebonyi State

Context: The indefinite results observed in different studies on the hip–low back pain association is alluded to be due to heterogeneous nature of their sample population hence, the need to address this constraint. Objective: To determine degree of passive hip rotation of Amateur Golfers(AG) with low back pain (LBP) and compare them with Desk-Bound(DB) participants in Ebonyi State. Methods: Forty-three male participants with LBP made up of 21 amateur golfers and 22 desk-bound individuals participated in the study. The two groups were equal with regards to LBP classification and physical characteristics but differ in activity level. Participants were recruited from Enugu and Ebonyi golf clubs and an Orthopedic hospital in Enugu, Nigeria. A comparative cross sectional study design was used to achieve the objectives of the study. Measurements of passive internal and external hip rotation range of motion were obtained in extension position with two-armed goniometer. Results: Showed that the desk-bound group showed significant deficit in external rotation of left hip than the amateur golfers group (DB mean 34.939± 9.837; AG mean 41.127± 7.913, p = 0.029., 95% CI 0.674 - 11.704). There were no significant differences in left internal, right external and internal hip rotation between the two groups(p> 0.05). The difference in degree of rotation between left and right hip of AG and that within DB group was not statistically significant(p >0.05). Conclusions: Low back pain is the source of hip rotation deficit between amateur golfers and desk-bound groups. Adequate categorising of sample population made the finding more definite thereby clarifying the ever evasive paradox of the hip function -LBP relationship.