As an athlete, you want to be sidelined as little as possible. And that means keeping your body in tip-top shape. But unfortunately, when you’re an athlete, whether a professional or recreational player, you put your body through much stress.
In addition to the physical demands of sports, athletes also have to contend with the mental stress of competition and training. This stress can cause additional strain on the body, especially if it’s not managed correctly.
As such, many athletes suffer from low back pain and have to deal with it regularly. In fact, research indicates that prevalence is high – up to 67% of athletes will experience low back pain at some point in their careers.
7 Causes Of Low Back Pain In Athletes
Muscle Strain/ Ligament Sprain (Musculoligamentous Strain)
The low back has a lot of muscle and ligamentous tissue, which can be strained or sprained during strenuous exercise. In athletes, this type of injury involves the muscles or ligaments around the lumbar spine, causing pain in the lower back region.
Most strains are not severe injuries. They can improve on their own just by resting the injured muscle for a few days. Appropriate treatment should include more than just rest, however. Affected athletes should also address ways to prevent future injuries, such as stretching before and after activity and doing conditioning exercises.
Degenerative Disc Disease
Of all the reasons athletes suffer from low back pain, degenerative disc disease is one of the most common, according to a review of scientific literature from 1951 through 2013.
Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a term that refers to a group of disorders that result in the gradual breakdown of the intervertebral discs (IVDs). The IVDs are located between each vertebra of your spine and act as shock absorbers for the spine.
The IVDs contain two tissues: an outer covering called the annulus fibrosus, made up of collagen and elastin fibers, and an inner gel-like substance called the nucleus pulposus. The nucleus pulposus gives our spines flexibility and acts as a cushion to absorb shock from everyday activities such as lifting or twisting.
In athletes, DDD involving the lumbar spine is the most prevalent. And most often associated with increased stress on the annulus fibrosus, causing it to break down over time.
Spondylolysis
Spondylolysis occurs due to repetitive stress, tear, and wear on the spine, such as that experienced by athletes who participate in sports requiring repetitive back movements. The 5th and 4th lumbar spine are the most commonly affected among athletes, while the condition is prevalent in divers, wrestlers, and weight lifters.
In addition to low back pain, an athlete with spondylosis might complain of radicular pain and a tight hamstring. And during physical examination, the pain increases with the hyperextension of the lumbar spine.
Another vital piece of information to note:
It is not uncommon for spondylosis to lead to spondylolisthesis – a spinal disorder in which one vertebra slips out of alignment.
In any of these situations, if you show extreme symptoms such as numbness, tingling, weakness in your legs, or pain radiating to your feet, you may have an issue with your spinal disc. It would be best if you tried to have it examined at the soonest possible time by a spine surgeon.
Poor Core Strength And Stability
The abdominals and glutes stabilize the lower back during movement, allowing us to produce power and speed with ease. In addition to being responsible for stabilization, these muscles also help us maintain proper posture when sitting or standing upright, as well as when lifting weights or performing other exercises that require bending over or reaching forward. Without adequate core strength and stability, athletes will find it more challenging to perform certain movements without experiencing discomfort in the lower back area.
Tight Hip Flexors
The hip flexors consist of the muscles that help you move your legs forward and backward. When tight, they limit your ability to extend your hips fully, which affects how well you can run or jump. Tight hip flexors also contribute to poor posture and movement patterns, leading to low back pain.
Herniated Disc
Given that athletes stand and play substantially longer than the average individual, it is true that their spine is under more stress. With time, these recurring stresses and repeated minor injuries can accumulate, compressing the spinal discs and leading them to bulge at their outer fibers into the spinal canal.
The result is the compression of the spinal cord and nerve roots. When this occurs, symptoms include pain in the low back area which may be accompanied by numbing and tingling sensations around the back of the thighs and foot (Sciatica). Herniated discs are most commonly seen in the lumbar spine (area of the low back) because this area supports more pressure than other areas of the spine.
Traumatic Back Injury
Lastly, back injury due to trauma – would refer to any other condition that affects the back due to trauma. Athletes participating in contact sports are at an even greater risk for these injuries because they often involve sudden, unexpected movements.
Athletes may also suffer from repetitive strain injuries, which occur when they repeatedly perform the same actions over time without giving their body time to recover. This injury can be caused by poor posture or improper technique when performing certain moves.
Athletes at risk for this type of injury include runners, tennis players, and golfers who experience repetitive stress injuries in their feet, knees, and hips due to repeated impacts on the ground during their sport.
Final Thoughts
You spend hours in the gym and on the field and practice your sport almost every day. So when your lower back hurts, it’s a big deal – because it could ultimately affect your performance. The good news is that, in most cases, low back pain can be managed conservatively by making a few changes to your training routine or playing schedule.
