Low back pain status in elite and semi-elite Australian football codes: a cross-sectional survey of football (soccer), Australian rules, rugby league, rugby union and non-athletic controls

Table 3 LBP profile (pain association, onset and frequency) by group (n = 779)

Level	Initial LBP due to sport^a	Odds ratio	95% CI
Elite (n = 271)	N/A (n = 13)	0.39	0.21–0.73
	Yes (n = 229)	3.40	2.34–4.94
	No (n = 29)	0.32	0.21–0.50
Semi-elite (n = 360)	N/A (n = 42)	1.78	1.08–2.92
	Yes (n = 235)	0.69	0.50–0.93
	No (n = 83)	1.21	0.86–1.71
Non-athletic (n = 148)	N/A (n = 16)	1.27	0.71–2.29
	Yes (n = 78)	0.40	0.28–0.58
	No (n = 54)	2.66	1.80–3.94
	Start of current LBP episode ^b
Elite (n = 271)	N/A (n = 85)	0.58	0.43–0.80
	0–3 months (n = 110)	1.43	1.06–1.95
	>3 months (n = 76)	1.25	0.89–1.74
Semi-elite (n = 360)	N/A (n = 156)	1.34	1.01–1.79
	0–3 months (n = 117)	0.80	0.60–1.08
	>3 months (n = 87)	0.90	0.65–1.24
Non-athletic (n = 148)	N/A (n = 67)	1.34	0.93–1.92
	0–3 months (n = 47)	0.83	0.57–1.21
	>3 months (n = 34)	0.86	0.56–1.31
	Current LBP due to sport ^c
Elite (n = 271)	N/A (n = 85)	0.61	0.45–0.83
	Yes (n = 173)	2.79	2.05–3.78
	No (n = 13)	0.22	0.12–0.41
Semi-elite (n = 360)	N/A (n = 151)	1.27	0.95–1.69
	Yes (n = 157)	0.75	0.56–0.99
	No (n = 52)	1.14	0.76–1.72
Non-athletic (n = 148)	N/A (n = 67)	1.38	0.96–1.99
	Yes (n = 40)	0.34	0.23–0.50
	No (n = 41)	3.34	2.14–5.19
	Frequency of LBP ^d
Elite (n = 271)	N/A (n = 51)	0.84	0.58–1.22
	Daily or weekly (n = 107)	1.77	1.29–2.42
	Fortnightly + (n = 113)	0.68	0.50–0.91
Semi-elite (n = 360)	N/A (n = 84)	1.35	0.95–1.91
	Daily or weekly (n = 111)	0.96	0.71–1.30
	Fortnightly + (n = 165)	0.85	0.64–1.13
Non-athletic (n = 148)	N/A (n = 26)	0.78	0.49–1.25
	Daily or weekly (n = 26)	0.40	0.26–0.64
	Fortnightly + (n = 96)	2.34	1.62–3.40

^a Question: if applicable, was your first ever attack or episode of LBP a result of your sporting commitments and activities or not related to this?
N/A = I have not had a first ever attack or episode of LBP
^b Question: when did your current episode of LBP commence?
N/A = I do not have a current episode of LBP
^c Question: if applicable, is your current episode of LBP a result of your sporting commitments and activities or not related to this?
N/A = I do not have a current episode of LBP
^d Question: how often do you experience LBP?
N/A = I do not experience LBP
"Fortnightly +" relates to experiencing LBP on a fortnightly basis or less frequently

ISSN: 1471-2474