Sports medicine specialists around the world are reporting seeing an increased number of cases involving the spine and lower back. Lower back pain could be caused from anything as little as a strain in the muscles or an overuse of the muscles to something more serious like a herniated disc.
Lower back pain has been emerging recently in high school and college level athletes, especially the ones involved in baseball, tennis, and gymnastics. According to Dr. Brian Halpern, a sports medicine specialist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, athletes in these three sports in particular are effected because "these activities generate tremendous rotational forces around areas in the lumbar spine, often resulting in overload of these structures." Halpern also adds that pain can be in short spurts or for long periods of time but some athletes try and play through the plain which only leads to prolonged healing time and disability.
Usually when dealing with this problem, more than X-rays are needed in order to identify the problem. Bone scans and MRIs are used to identify stress fractures in the spine. MRIs can also tell the difference between different problems that could occur with the spine. Lower Back pain could be fixed with rest but sometimes the problem requires rehab.
In conclusion, If you are experiencing back pain, you should know that its common and it would be your best bet to let you coach know and get it checked out. Even if you think it's nothing, it could turn into something that will effect the way you play for the rest of your life. Remember, to avoid experiencing back pain, always stretch it out before exercising or becoming involved in an athletic game.
It's good to know for us. The athletes people get more pain in the body because the movement when they do sport.
ReplyDeleteI am not surprised that back pains are especially common in athletes. I am a diver and in the beginning of the year I was experiencing intense pains in my lower back. It was hard to continue with 2 hours of practice because I was constantly putting a lot of stress on my back because of the impact when I hit the water. I agree that its important to get it checked out because it could be something so sever as a slipped disk that needs to be properly treated. This was a great blog and very informational thanks!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting and informative blog. I always get back pain but that is what is common in this day in age. Stretching and warming up the right way before exercise and practice is key.
ReplyDeletethis blog is very informative. I know i have experienced lower back pain before and my roomate has been experiencing lower back pain. As college athletes we do get hit in that area alot. It is also great that we have so much technology to help find out injuries. Stretching also does feel good on my back. Very good information on back pain.
ReplyDeleteI have experienced back pain in the past and it is very painful and frustrating. It is hard to participate in sports when you are experiencing this pain. My dad used to be a big runner but he had to stop after experiencing intense lower back pain. His doctor said that from all the years of running it some how injured something in his lower back and if he kept on running it would just get worse.
ReplyDeleteI have lower back pain a lot of the time. I think a lot of it has to do with the amount of high impact activities that I participate in and also how much time i spend sitting in a car seat and school desks. I have actually decided to start seeing a chiropractor regularly in order to take care of myself before the condition gets worse.
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