Movement Analysis, Workout Builder

Low back pain is a common issue among athletes, often stemming from limited hip mobility and poor lumbar stability. Demotu’s Lumbar Spine and Hip Mobility Assessment provides Athletic Trainers with an evidence-based protocol to identify these risk factors early, helping athletes maintain a strong, stable lower back and avoid injuries. This protocol assesses key areas of movement and control, focusing on the lumbar spine and hip function needed to support safe, effective athletic performance.

Lumbar Spine and Hip Mobility Assessment Protocol

Functional Assessments

1. Bilateral Hinge

Focus: Posterior chain strength and spinal alignment

The bilateral hinge, similar to a hip hinge or deadlift movement, evaluates the athlete’s posterior chain strength and spinal alignment during hip-dominant movements. This assessment highlights the role of the glutes, hamstrings, and lower back muscles in stabilizing the spine and supporting hip mobility. Observing the alignment of the lumbar spine during this movement can reveal issues with core stability and hip flexibility—factors that often contribute to low back pain if left unaddressed.

2. Overhead Squat

Focus: Thoracic and lumbar mobility

The overhead squat is a valuable assessment for lumbar and thoracic mobility. By asking the athlete to perform a squat while holding their arms overhead, this test places the entire spine under controlled tension, allowing the trainer to observe any limitations or compensations in the lumbar and thoracic regions. Limited mobility in the lumbar spine can lead to compensatory patterns in the lower back, while inadequate hip or thoracic flexibility often creates excessive strain on the lumbar spine, increasing the risk of back pain or injury.

Joint Comparisons

• Hip Flexion & Extension: Assessing hip flexion (bringing the knee toward the chest) and extension (extending the leg backward) is essential for understanding an athlete’s range of motion. Restricted hip flexion or extension can lead to compensatory movement patterns that strain the lumbar spine.

• Hip Abduction: Hip abduction (moving the leg out to the side) is key for lateral stability. Assessing this range can help identify weaknesses or limitations in the hip muscles that contribute to proper lumbar spine support.

• Trunk Rotation: Evaluating trunk rotation provides insight into the athlete’s ability to maintain spinal alignment while moving through the torso. Limited trunk rotation or excessive compensatory movements often place added stress on the lumbar spine, which can exacerbate low back pain in rotational sports.

Research & Insights

Research shows that limited hip mobility and poor lumbar stability are among the most common contributors to low back pain in athletes. Poor flexibility or strength in the hips often forces the lower back to take on a larger share of movement and stabilization than it is designed to handle, especially during high-intensity sports movements. Addressing these limitations through targeted mobility and stability assessments can help prevent low back injuries and improve overall athletic performance.

Reducing Low Back Pain Risk Through Targeted Assessments and Exercises

Demotu’s Lumbar Spine and Hip Mobility Assessment equips Athletic Trainers with the tools needed to identify and address movement deficiencies in the lumbar spine and hips. With data-driven insights on each athlete’s mobility and stability, trainers can develop corrective exercises that enhance movement quality, ultimately supporting the lower back’s stability and reducing injury risks.

Using Demotu’s workout builder and exercise builder features, Athletic Trainers can create personalized mobility and stability programs tailored to each athlete’s needs. Recommended exercises for low back pain prevention include:

• For Lumbar Stability: Core stabilization exercises such as planks, bird-dogs, and anti-rotation holds can strengthen the muscles that support the lumbar spine.

• For Hip Mobility: Hip flexor stretches, 90/90 hip mobility drills, and dynamic lunges can increase hip range of motion, reducing the strain on the lower back.

• For Posterior Chain Strength: Movements like Romanian deadlifts and glute bridges focus on building the posterior chain, which is crucial for maintaining proper hip function and spinal alignment.

Integrating Lumbar Spine and Hip Mobility Data into Training Programs

With Demotu’s advanced tracking capabilities, Athletic Trainers can monitor improvements in lumbar spine and hip mobility over time. The Lumbar Spine and Hip Mobility Assessment offers measurable data that enables trainers to tailor corrective exercise routines based on each athlete’s specific limitations and improvements, ensuring that the low back remains supported and stable.

This targeted approach to assessing and enhancing lumbar and hip mobility is invaluable for athletes in sports requiring high levels of mobility and flexibility, such as gymnastics, dance, and track. By improving hip mobility and lumbar stability, trainers can help athletes maintain better posture, generate more power from the lower body, and minimize compensatory movements that contribute to low back pain.

Click Here To Use Motion Capture for Movement Assessments - Free Today!