Back Pain
& Athletes
Terms you should know
Strains : Injury of the muscle – tendon unit.
Sprains : Ligamentous injuries.
Range of motion : Movement of joints.
Lumbosacral belt : A belt or a brace which is worn at the lower back level to support the lower spine.
Spinal abnormalities are more common in athletes than in non-athletes. Athletes are susceptible to degenerative disc changes at an early age because of activities that frequently increase load on the spine. This is true of both high-performance, world-class athletes as well as of weekend athletes. With more and more people getting involved in organized sports, these injuries are becoming more common.
The bones and the ligaments constitute the structural components of the spine; the muscles and tendons constitute the dynamic elements. When all the elements are intact, the biomechanical function of the spine is normal. As the lumbar spine and the hips are responsible for the mobility of the trunk, the area where the spine joins the pelvis (L4-5) and L5-S1 areas) bears the highest load and undergoes the most motion. Consequently, these areas are found to sustain most spinal strain or sprain injuries. The most common causes of lower back pain in athletes are sprains and strains, followed by disc injuries.
It has been observed that athletes are more likely to sustain injuries in practice than during competition. Football players and gymnasts are reported to have the highest rates of lower back injury. The rate of lumbar spinal injury in gymnasts has been directly related to the level of competition. Sports such as golf and cycling, are also associated with increased lower back pain.
Cause
Any factor that places excessive demand on the spine can cause injury to it. Improper technique in activities such as in blocking or tackling the opponents move can lead to overload on the muscles and ligaments. Unexpected overloads also result from falls, collisions, or improper techniques.
