Back pain problems are very common in both athletes and non-athletes alike. Up to 20% of all sports injuries involve the lower back or neck.
In recent years, in addition to bicycling, running, swimming, racquetball, skiing, golf, and tennis, excessive, exhausting, and even punishing forms of sports, physical training, and exercise are being undertaken. These new types of extreme physical activities include bungee jumping, rollerblading, snowboarding, paragliding, and windsurfing, to name a few. All of these activities carry with them the risk of sports injuries.
Sports injuries result from acute trauma or repetitive stress associated with athletic activities which can affect bones or soft tissue and require specialized care to promote optimum healing.
For obvious reasons, athletes are at greater risk of sustaining a lumbar (lower) spine injury due to physical activity. Whatever the sport, the spine undergoes a lot of stress, absorption of pressure, twisting, turning, and even bodily impact.
There are four main causes of back pain in sports-active individuals.
1) Mechanical Low Back Pain
This is the most common type of back problem seen in the sports-active individual. It accounts for 70-75% of all back problems and is usually the easiest to treat.
2) Facet Joint Syndrome
The vertebrae are connected by small joints (facet joints) which may become strained and/or inflamed when they undergo forces when the spine is excessively twisting or arching, especially during activities such as tennis, racquetball, or golf.
3) Herniated Disc
Also called a "slipped disc", a herniated disc is the most severe of low back disorders and occurs when the inner center of the disc pushes out, pressing on the nerves and causing pain in the back all the way down to the foot. This can create a condition known as "drop foot" due to strong pressure on the nerves.
The inter-vertebral discs can be injured by sudden and severe trauma. Much more common is a small disc bulge which might be present for some time and is only noted when a sports injury is medically evaluated. The good news is that very few herniated discs lead to persistent trouble or require surgery. Although pain can last a few weeks, the majority of disc-related problems are a self limiting medical condition which may be resolved with physical therapy, decompression, and medication, and very rarely requires surgery.
4) Degenerated Discs
The discs act as shock absorbers for the spine cushioning the vertebrae. As we age, the discs can degenerate - drying out, shrinking, and losing elasticity and flexibility. Sometimes, a part of the outer covering of the disc wears away or tears, allowing the parts of the disc or its jelly-like contents to press on the spinal nerve roots. Then we may experience numbness, weakness, tingling, or shooting pain down the back of one leg.
Degenerative disc disease can result from trauma, infection, or the natural processes of aging. Some disc degeneration commonly occurs in people over 40 even without specific sports injuries.
Types of Sports Injuries Causing Back Pain
Sports exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Participating in sports is one approach many people choose in order to get their exercise. Knowing the type of strain sports place on the back may help prevent a back injury.
Sports that use repetitive impact (e.g., running), weight loading at the end of a range-of-motion (e.g., weights), or twisting and arching (e.g., golf, tennis, racquetball) commonly cause damage to the lumbar spine (lower back).
Sports that involve contact (e.g., football, basketball, soccer) place the cervical spine (neck) at risk of injury.
How Biking Can Cause Back Pain
Back posture on the bicycle can strain the lower back (as a result of the lumbar spine flexing or pulling up) or the upper back and neck (as a result of the neck arching back). In addition, riding over rough terrain increases jarring and compression to the spine, which can also cause back and neck pain
How Golf Causes Low Back Pain
The most common area of complaint amongst golfers of the PGA is the lower back. Amateur golfers also identified low back pain (LBP) as their most common golf-related injury.
The golf swing is a major source of sports injury to the spine in both professional and amateur golfers. Discogenic LBP most likely develops because of the axial rotation of the lumbar spine at the top of the backswing, with the subsequent uncoiling and hyperextension through the downswing and follow-through.
The full golf swing (backswing and follow-through) rotates the spine with a lot of force and little control, causing the lumbar spine muscles to strain in order to help provide force for the golf swing. In addition, disc and facet joint loading also increases in order to help provide force for the golf swing. Finally, bending over to pick up the golf bag and carrying it throughout the game can strain the back and neck.
Swinging a golf club applies a lot of torque (force) and torsion (twisting) to the lower back and can often result in injury or exacerbation of existing low back and neck pain.
How Running Can Cause Low Back Pain
Running and jogging can be a source of sports injury because of the muscle strain and the jarring of discs and joints in the back as these muscles work to keep the body upright and in good posture throughout the duration of the run. The joints and discs are constantly jarred and compressed by the force of the body leaving the ground and the collision of the feet landing after every stride.
How Tennis and Racquetball Can Cause Low Back Pain
Playing tennis can be a source of sports injuries such as muscle strain, hyper-extending the back, and low back and neck pain. Forehand and backhand shots require a large amount of trunk rotation and twisting of the spine. The tennis serve also hyper-extends the lower back and can compress the lumbar discs. The back muscles must also support sudden forward and lateral movements and start-and-stop motions throughout the entire match.
Be Active!
Staying active is important for both your physical and psychological well-being. Whether you are a weekend jogger or tennis player, a professional soccer player or marathon runner, a child or senior citizen, or even a musician or actress, trauma to the spine, muscles, and joints can limit or prevent your participation in these activities. Before engaging in physical activity, always take the proper time to stretch your muscles, especially focusing on the back muscles for those actvities previously mentioned. An active stretching regimen is the best way to prevent back pain and injury!
