A previous episode of low back pain is the one risk factor significantly associated with rowing LBP (OR 2.65)
Training volume, age, sex, BMI, level and years rowing were not, in a meta-analysis of 10 studies (2,082 rowers)
Key Findings
10 studies (7 cross-sectional, 3 cohort; mean quality score 7.4) with 2,082 rowers pooled by random-effects meta-analysis.
Previous history of LBP was significantly associated with LBP: OR 2.65 (95% CI 1.86–3.78).
Not significantly associated: age (OR 1.05, 0.98–1.12), sex (OR 1.37, 0.63–2.95), BMI (OR 1.00, 0.91–1.11), competitive level (OR 1.45, 0.86–2.45), training volume (OR 1.26, 0.83–1.91), rowing type (OR 0.69, 0.21–2.25) and years rowing (OR 1.02, 0.92–1.13).
Authors' conclusion: previous LBP is the established association; more high-quality prospective studies are needed before other risk factors (including training volume) can be called established.
Practical Application
In 2,082 rowers across 10 studies, only a prior LBP episode was a significant risk factor (OR 2.65); training volume pooled non-significant (OR 1.26). Screen for prior LBP history and treat those athletes as the group to watch — they carry 2.65-fold odds.
Volume and long erg pieces are not shown here to raise LBP odds; managing them is still reasonable load practice, but present it as the base's own precaution, not this meta-analysis's finding. (Not from this paper; the base's own practice.)
Refer persistent, worsening or radicular back pain to a clinician; this is risk-screening guidance, not treatment.
Limitations
Observational inputs with heterogeneous LBP definitions (7 of 10 cross-sectional); pooled ORs cannot set an individual's threshold; wide CIs on several non-significant factors mean "not shown", not "ruled out".
How this entry was checked and changed
Content correction 2026-09-27
Title/lead "prior LBP and high erg-training volume are the most consistent risk factors" -> the abstract's meta-analysis found training volume NOT significant (OR 1.26, 95% CI 0.83–1.91); only previous LBP was (OR 2.65, 1.86–3.78). "Prolonged continuous erg exposure is a modifiable driver" removed as a finding.
Added study counts, the 2,082 pooled rowers, all pooled ORs and the PROSPERO registration; the erg-volume advice relabelled as the base's own practice; §82 pointer replaced with a refId.