Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the spinal morphology of athletes from different sports compared to non-athletes, examine gender differences in spinal angles, and classify spinal morphology based on normative values. Methods The study involved 140 participants (62 men and 78 women), including 16 aerobic gymnasts, 13 Latin dancers, 16 Rock & Roll dancers, 11 judokas, 16 freestyle wrestlers, 16 tennis players, 12 volleyball players, and 40 non-athletes. Sagittal spinal curvatures were assessed using the Spinal Mouse® system across six postures. Results These revealed significant differences in lumbar flexion and sacral tilt, particularly among women during maximum trunk flexion. Most participants displayed normative thoracic and lumbar spine values in a habitual standing position. However, female judokas exhibited the highest rates of thoracic hyperkyphosis (> 65%) among all athletes studied. Conclusion Although these sports induce specific adaptations in sagittal spinal curvature, they do not adversely affect overall spinal morphology. Considering the gender-specific spinal characteristics observed, it is crucial that sport-specific training be tailored accordingly, particularly for activities that involve significant spinal loading, and, especially, for female athletes, such as judokas.
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