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Related Experiment Videos

Low-back pain in athletes.

Christopher M Bono1

  • 1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Boston University Medical Center, 850 Harrison Avenue, Dowling 2 North, Boston, MA 02118, USA. bonocm@prodigy.net

The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. American Volume
|February 13, 2004
PubMed
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Persistent back pain in athletes may stem from degenerative disc disease or spondylolysis. While nonoperative care often succeeds, surgery can help selected athletes with chronic pain or spondylolysis return to play.

Area of Science:

  • Orthopedics
  • Sports Medicine
  • Spinal Surgery

Background:

  • Low-back pain in athletes can range from simple sprains to chronic conditions.
  • Degenerative lumbar disc disease and spondylolytic stress lesions are common in athletes with persistent pain.
  • Radiographic disc degeneration is more prevalent in athletes, but its link to pain is uncertain.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the causes and treatments of chronic or recurrent low-back pain in athletes.
  • To explore the efficacy of surgical interventions for specific spinal conditions in athletes.
  • To discuss management strategies for spondylolysis and sacral stress fractures in athletic populations.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of peer-reviewed clinical information on athletic back pain.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Analysis of the prevalence and impact of degenerative disc disease and spondylolysis in athletes.
  • Examination of treatment outcomes for nonoperative and surgical management of spinal injuries.

    • Main Results:

    • Nonoperative treatment relieves pain in about 80% of spondylolysis cases.
    • Surgical repair for spondylolysis can lead to high success rates and return to play.
    • Sacral stress fractures in runners typically resolve with conservative management and physical therapy.

    Conclusions:

    • Selected athletes with chronic degenerative disc disease may benefit from interbody fusion.
    • Surgical repair is effective for recalcitrant spondylolysis, enabling athletes to return to competition.
    • Conservative treatment is the primary approach for sacral stress fractures, with a good prognosis for return to sport.