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 and many new types of extreme physical activities have evolved ranging from bungee jumping, rollerblading, snowboarding, paragliding, to windsurfing. All of these sports activities carry with them the risk of sport 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. Whether the sport is racquetball, skiing, basketball, football, soccer, running, golf, or tennis, 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 while the spine is excessively twisting or arching while playing Tennis, Racquetball or Golf, for example .
3) Herniated Disc
The most severe of low back disorders (which in laymen's terms is called a "slipped disc") occurs when the inner center of the disc pushes out, pressing on the nerves causing pain from the back all the way down to the foot which 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 but much more common is a small disc bulge which in fact may have been 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 a sharp, shooting pain down the back of one leg and numbness, weakness, or tingling in the 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 sport injuries.
Types of Sports Injuries Causing Back Pain
Sport 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) or 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 cause back and neck pain
How Golf Causes Low Back Pain
The most common area of complaint among golfers of the Professional Golfer's Association is the lower back. Amateur golfers also identified Low Back Pain as their most common golf-related injury.
The golf swing is a major source of sport 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 and 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 low 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 the of the muscle strain and jarring of discs and joints in the back as back muscles work to keep the body upright and in good posture during the duration of the run. The joints and discs are constantly jarred and compressed by the force of the body leaving the ground and landing on every stride when running or jogging.
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. Front and back-hand shots require a large amount of trunk rotation and twisting in the spine when playing tennis. The tennis serve also hyper-extends the lower back and can compress lumbar discs while the back muscles must support continual sudden forward and lateral movements and start-and-stop motions during the entire game.
Staying active is important for both our 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.
What To Do for Simple Sports Injuries
Immediately begin traction with the Vertetrac, as a diagnostic tool. If there is an improvement in Range of Motion (ROM) begin Vertetrac Protocol without the need for MRI or CT scans or further medical examination but the treatment should be under constant medical observation.
