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Low back pain in young athletes. A practical approach
1Sections of Sports Medicine, Orthopaedic Center of the Rockies, Fort Collins, Colorado.
Sports Medicine (Auckland, N.Z.)
|December 1, 1991
Summary
Young athletes experiencing lumbar spine pain often face diagnostic challenges. Conservative therapy, including targeted exercises and avoiding prolonged rest, is typically effective for most cases.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Orthopedics
- Pediatric Sports Injuries
Background:
- Lumbar spine pain is a significant concern in athletic populations, accounting for 5-8% of sports injuries.
- It presents unique diagnostic and treatment challenges for sports physicians, particularly in young athletes.
- Predisposing factors include growth spurts, increased training intensity, improper technique, and biomechanical issues like leg-length inequality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the causes, diagnosis, and management of low back pain in adolescent athletes.
- To highlight the importance of a thorough history and physical examination in diagnosis.
- To outline conservative treatment strategies for various lumbar spine injuries in young athletes.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of common lumbar spine injuries in adolescent athletes.
- Discussion of predisposing factors, including anatomical and biomechanical elements.
- Overview of diagnostic approaches, emphasizing clinical evaluation over imaging.
- Summary of conservative treatment modalities and exercise-based rehabilitation.
Main Results:
- Sprains and strains are the most common causes of low back pain in adolescents, often due to lifting and twisting.
- Hyperextension-related injuries like spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis are prevalent in certain sports.
- While imaging can exclude serious pathology, clinical assessment is paramount for diagnosis.
- The majority of adolescent low back pain cases respond well to conservative management.
Conclusions:
- Conservative therapy is the cornerstone of treatment for most adolescent lumbar spine injuries.
- Early intervention with appropriate exercises (flexion/extension) and modalities like cryotherapy is crucial.
- Avoiding prolonged bed rest and strong analgesics is recommended to prevent deconditioning and masked pain.
- A comprehensive approach addressing biomechanics and training errors is essential for long-term recovery and prevention.