Prevalence and risk factors for back pain in sports: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

<bold>Objectives: </bold>We aimed to determine the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) in sport, and what risk factors were associated with LBP in athletes.<bold>Design: </bold>Systematic review with meta-analysis.<bold>Data Sources: </bold>Literature searches from database inception to June 2019 in Medline, Embase, Cumulated Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Web of Science and Scopus, supplemented by grey literature searching.<bold>Eligibility Criteria: </bold>Studies evaluating prevalence of LBP in adult athletes across all sports.<bold>Results: </bold>Eighty-six studies were included (30 732, range 20-5958, participants), of which 45 were of 'high' quality. Definitions of LBP varied widely, and in 17 studies, no definition was provided. High-quality studies were pooled and the mean point prevalence across six studies was 42%; range 18%-80% (95% CI 27% to 58%, I2=97%). Lifetime prevalence across 13 studies was 63%; range 36%-88% (95% CI 51% to 74%, I2=99%). Twelve-month LBP prevalence from 22 studies was 51%; range 12%-94% (95% CI 41% to 61%, I2=98%). Comparison across sports was limited by participant numbers, study quality and methodologies, and varying LBP definitions. Risk factors for LBP included history of a previous episode with a pooled OR of 3.5; range 1.6-4.0 (95% CI 1.9 to 6.4). Statistically significant associations were reported for high training volume, periods of load increase and years of exposure to the sport.<bold>Conclusion: </bold>LBP in sport is common but estimates vary. Current evidence is insufficient to identify which sports are at highest risk. A previous episode of LBP, high training volume, periods of load increase and years of exposure are common risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]