
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.