DEMOGRAPHİC AND CLİNİCAL DİSTRİBUTİON OF ATHLETİC PATİENTS DİAGNOSED WİTH LUMBAR DİSC HERNİATİON VİA MAGNETİC RESONANCE IMAGİNG İN TURKEY

Abstract

Many factors account for the higher incidence of lumbar disc herniation among Turkish sportsmen. Any sport involving repetitive forces, such as a competitive race, can also increase the risk of herniated discs among athletes. This causes lower back pain that progressively worsens over time. Any activity or sport requiring a great deal of repetitive movement or running stresses the body's muscles and cushions the spine. This study was done to determine the demographic and clinical distribution of athletes diagnosed with Lumbar Disc Herniation by magnetic resonance imaging. The survey included 211 sports patients for this reason. Patients who participated in sports were analyzed based on their disc herniation severity, number, duration, degree of education, and place of residence. Using SPSS 20.0 package software, the data were examined. The results of this study indicate that 48% of sports patients had a contained hernia, and 52% had an uncontained hernia. The results have many theoretical and practical implications. The present study is a vital addition to the growing body of research on athletes and the diseases that come from their repetitive behaviors. Practically, the present study provides the Turkish sports department with information that can be used to establish strategies for preventing the disease prevalence of lumbar disc herniation in athletes.