OVERVIEW

What Is Lower Back Pain?

When athletes have lower back pain, it can impact their ability to be active and participate in sports.

Lower back pain risk factors and causes in sports

Almost everyone is at risk of having lower back pain at some point in their life.

If you play a sport, certain motions may put strain on your back muscles and cause pain.

Other factors that can cause lower back pain include:

• Overuse.of the soft tissues
• Having poor posture.
• Sitting in  poorly designed chairs for long periods of  time.
• Mechanical issues with the bones of your spine.
• Arthritis in the spine.
• A small fracture, in rare cases.

Lower back pain complications

Any type of pain can lessen your enjoyment of daily activities.

If you play a sport, lower back pain can limit your playing time.

Athletes can cause strain on other parts of their body if they change the way they walk, lift, swing, or throw to reduce back pain.

SYMPTOMS

Sports-Related Lower Back Pain Symptoms and Diagnosis

Athletes are at greater risk of sustaining injuries that cause lower back pain.

Lower back pain can come on suddenly. The pain can stay at the same level or become more intense over time.

Lower back pain symptoms

Lower back pain symptoms include:

• Stiffness
• Fatigue
• A pulling or twisting feeling

Movement often causes you to hurt more, but sometimes you can feel back pain even when you're still.

Lower back pain diagnosis

To help diagnose your lower back pain, a health care practitioner will observe the way you walk and move.

You will be asked about the sports you play and other things you do each day that might cause your back pain.

Along with a physical exam, certain tests can pinpoint the cause of lower back pain.

Some tests look for issues with structures like your spine.

These may include:

• X-rays.
• Bone scans 

Other tests look for problems in soft structures, like the nerves and spinal cord

These tests may include:

• MRI scans 

TREATMENT

Lower Back Pain Treatment 

The first step to wellness is working with a health care professional to find the root cause of your lower back pain.

After your physical exam and diagnostic tests for lower back pain, your physician will review the results and develop the best treatment plan for you.

Lower back pain treatments for athletes may include:

• An exercise program to strengthen your back and core muscles.
• Physiotherapy to improve your posture and how you move. 

If a structural issue — such as osteoporosis — is the cause of your lower back pain, your physician may address that problem with changes in your exercise and suggest a visit to a registered dietitian.

 

 

 

 

Content supplemented by UPMC Sports Medicine