Kickboxers and crossfitters vertebral column curvatures in sagittal plane: Crossfit practice influence in kickboxers body posture

Background: In combat sports, long-term training load can lead to sport-specific functional and body posture adaptations. The most often observed changes are in the shape of the anterior-posterior spinal curvatures. The abnormal inclination of the thoracic and lumbar regions of the spine may lead to an additional overload of the musculoskeletal system and spinal pain or decrease sports performance. Therefore it is crucial to prevent disadvantageous body posture features.

Aim: The aim was to examine differences in vertebral column's sagittal curves parameters between kickboxing fighters, kickboxing fighters who also trained CrossFit and CrossFit athletes and evaluate these parameters' predictive ability to predict sport disciplines. Received results show if CrossFit training influences vertebral column curvatures in the sagittal plane among Kickboxers is an effective method in proper body posture shaping.

Methods: The study involved 45 men aged 25.2 years divided into three groups depending on the sport they practiced: group kickboxing (KB), kickboxing and CrossFit (KBCF), and CrossFit (CF). The body posture was observed using the photogrammetric method. The parameters of the sagittal plane were analyzed.

Results: Among the kickboxers, it was observed that the angle of the thoracolumbar region, the angle of inclination of the thoracolumbar and lumbosacral regions significantly increased compared to other groups of athletes (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Practicing kickboxing can be a factor in increasing the risk of postural defects. It was found that CrossFit training has a beneficial effect on the shape of physiological curvatures of the spine in combat sports athletes.