Lower Back Pain in Athletes EXPERT CONSULTANTS: Timothy Hosea, MD, Monica Arnold, DO
SPORTS TIP Lower Back Pain in Athletes EXPERT CONSULTANTS: Timothy Hosea, MD, Monica Arnold, DO How common is low back pain? What structures of the back Low back pain is a very common can cause pain? problem in industrialized countries, Low back pain can come from all the affecting over 70 percent of the working spinal structures. The bony elements population. Back pain is also common of the spine can develop stress fractures, in such sports as football, soccer, or in the older athlete, arthritic changes golf, rowing, and gymnastics. which may pinch the nerve roots. The annulus has a large number of pain What are the structures fibers, and any injury to this structure, of the back? such as a sprain, bulging disc, or disc The spine is composed of three regions herniation will result in pain. Finally, the from your neck to the lower back. surrounding muscles and ligaments may The cervical region corresponds also suffer an injury, leading to pain. to your neck, the thoracic region is the mid-back (or back of the chest), How is the lower back injured? and the lumbar area is the lower back. Injuries to the lower back can be the The lumbar area provides the most result of improper conditioning and motion and works the hardest in warm-up, repetitive loading patterns, supporting your weight, and enables excessive sudden loads, and twisting you to bend, twist, and lift. activities. Proper body mechanics and flexibility are essential for all activities. Each area of the spine is composed To prevent injury, it is important to learn of stacked bony vertebral bodies with the proper technique in any sporting interposed cushioning pads called discs.
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