Would-be Federers face spine risk, says study

PARIS: Youngsters who train intensively in the dream of becoming the next Roger Federer or Venus Williams should beware - they may risk permanently damaging their spine.

Doctors used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to get a cross-section image of the spines of 33 young players enrolled in an elite training program run by Britain's national tennis center.

The players comprised 18 males and 15 females, aged from 16 to 23, none of whom had any back pain.

The MRI pictures, interpreted by two musculoskeletal radiologists, revealed back abnormalities, some of which were irreparable, in 28 out of the 33 volunteers. Only five had normal spines.

The study was published online on Wednesday by the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

The problems included spinal disc degeneration, herniated discs, complete fractures and nasty stress fractures known as pars lesions. Three of the 10 pars lesions in nine players were complete fractures.

Twenty-three players had early signs of diseased facet joint, which helps the spine to flex. This rate (70 percent of the group) is nearly five times that of the general population.

Twenty-four players had bone overgrowth while cysts in the synovial fluid, which lubricates the joints, were found in 10 players.

In 13 players, the spinal discs were drying out due to insufficient lubrication, and the discs were bulging in another 13. Rotation, hyper-extension and flexion during play are the suspected causes.

The authors, led by David Connell of the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, northwest London, says coaches should modify training techniques and schedules in order to minimise wear and tear.

And coaches should also understand that back abnormalities in their early stages may not give a telltale warning of pain, "and other sources of pain should be considered" as pointers to looming spinal problems, they add.

AFP

(China Daily 07/20/2007 page23)