Thoracic and Lumbar Sagittal Spinal Curvature Adaptations between Elite Iranian Road and Speed Cyclists

Despite existing some research on the effects of professional cycling on cyclist’s spinal curvature angles, no research is available concentrating on possible differences in various types of professional cycling. Road (outdoor) and speed (indoor) cyclists have different anthropometric and predominant postures during cycling. The current study aims to investigate if cyclists with different types of cycling may have dissimilar spinal curvature adaptations.

Forty-eight male subjects, including 16 elite road cyclists, 16 elite sprint cyclists and 16 non-athletes as the control group were recruited in this non-experimental study.

In this cross-sectional study, a spinal mouse was used to measure the thoracic and lumbar curvature angles in standing position.

The mean values of thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis angles were found as follows: 48.3±7.2º & -20.3±7.2º for elite road cyclists; 46.6±8.1º & -22.5±7.7º for elite sprint cyclists; and 37.5±4.1º & -19±6.3º for the control group. The results confirmed that both the road and sprint cyclists showed significantly more hyper-kyphosis posture in their thoracic region when compared to the control group (p <0.05).

All road cyclists showed no significantly higher degrees of thoracic angle relative to the sprint cyclists (p>0.05). However, all the cyclists and the control groups showed a normal range of lumbar lordosis angle. As a conclusion, the results of this study confirmed that an elite cyclist may predispose these subjects to the risk of hyper-kyphotic posture. The road cycling may result in more hyper-kyphosis due to the longer time, spent in flexed position.