Low Back Pain in Athletes, what are the reasons

Low back pain is becoming a common medical health issue day by day. A large number of the population is facing this problem due to an unhealthy routine. But, back pain is also very common in athletes. Athletes have more chances of getting a spinal injury due to their physical activity. In sports such as football, tennis, skiing, turning, ice skating, etc; the spine gets lots of pressure and stress which can cause bad injury.

Lower back pain is usually treated without any major treatment but in case of athletes; they should seek medical help. If not, they may face major issues which may lead to poor performance in the game or may face physical disability. Many athletes deny lower back pain because they might have to face various consequences like missing the match, losing the position, etc. They prefer taking OTC medication. But this practice may lead to a major medical issue which can lead to permanent exclusion from the game. Most of the back pain issues are easily treated in a short period.

Causes of low back pain

Low back pain can occur due to various reasons; some most common reasons are mentioned below:

Musculoligamentous Strain

This term is coined to indicate all lumbar spine injuries. Musculoligamentous is one of the most occurring sports injuries which damage the muscles, ligaments, blood vessels, and tendons around your spine. This kind of injury does not spread or and get healed with time. Musculoligamentous can be treated by proper conditioning and warm-up therapy and preventing the strains. Changing the way and techniques of sports activity can be beneficial.

Spondylolysis

Medically, there is no clear cause of this condition; but most of the physicians believe that this condition occurs due to bone defect. An athlete who has genetically weak bones can get Spondylolysis due to stress on the spine while performing physical activities. Spondylolysis should be treated properly otherwise it can lead to stress fractures. Therapies at SportsInjuries Etobicoke are very helpful for treating Spondylolysis.

This medical condition does not have any specific symptoms. Proper strengthening exercises and anti-inflammatory medications can help in reducing the pain. But if you are dealing with stress fracture due to some athletic activity then you may have to take rest for a few days or a few months depending on your stress condition. Proper rest is necessary for performing better in your game. If you don't seek medical help at the time; you may undergo surgery. Spondylolysis can lead to Spondylolisthesis. Spondylolisthesis is a condition where one vertebra slips over the below one. This condition usually does not occur in athletes but if then proper treatment does is required. 

Herniated Nucleus Pulposus

Sometimes, an athlete damages his intervertebral disc due to excessive stress. A person has 26 vertebrae bones in the spine which are separated by discs. If one of the disc slips out then it will eventually pressurize the nerve which causes back pain. Herniated disc or slipped disc usually occurs due to repeated strain the back, falling, or by sudden twisting. Getting HNP in sports such as football, tennis, hockey, and golf is common. Slipped disc can be treated with hot and cold packs, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, stabilization exercises, and massage. Sometimes steroid injections are used for reducing the pain and swelling. Visiting a physical therapist is recommendable.

Some other causes of lower back pain are scoliosis and Scheuermann's kyphosis. These conditions are not always related to physical activities but can affect the performance of the athlete. If you are facing any kind of pain on your lower back; visit your doctor instantly.