Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2026

Diagnosis and Surgical Treatment of Human Brucellar Spondylodiscitis
Published on: May 23, 2021
Infectious, inflammatory, and metabolic diseases affecting the athlete's spine
Lionel N Metz1, Rosanna Wustrack, Alberto F Lovell
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143-0728, USA.
Abstract:
Sports and weight-bearing activities can have a positive effect on bone health in the growing, mature, or aging athlete. However, certain athletic activities and training regimens may place the athlete at increased risk for stress fractures in the spine. In addition, some athletes have an underlying susceptibility to fracture due to either systemic or focal abnormalities. It is important to identify and treat these athletes in order to prevent stress fractures and reduce the risk of osteoporosis in late adulthood. Therefore, the pre-participation physical examination offers a unique opportunity to screen athletes for metabolic bone disease through the history and physical examination. Positive findings warrant a thorough workup including a metabolic bone laboratory panel, and possibly a DEXA scan, which includes a lateral spine view.
Related Concept Videos
Disorders of the Skeletal Muscle
Musculoskeletal disorders
Musculoskeletal disorders involve injuries and conditions affecting the skeletal muscles and associated connective tissues. These disorders can arise from acute biomechanical stresses or chronic overuse and can occur across different age groups. Common injuries include sprains, fractures, and muscular strains, often resulting from...
Herniated Intervertebral Disc l: Introduction
Degenerative Disc Disease I: Introduction
Degenerative Disc Disease ll: Pathophysiology
Secondary Spinal Cord Injury llI: Pathophysiology
Spinal Cord Injury ll: Pathophysiology

