Assessing Spine Injuries in Young Athletes

Low back injuries are among the most common injuries that young athletes endure. According to a study lead by Dr. Neeru Jayanthi, of Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, IL, nearly 15 percent of injuries between 2010 and 2013 in young athletes were related to lower back pain.

At Southwest Spine and Pain Center, we provide preventative and therapeutic care for patients suffering with chronic pain conditions. Lower back pain affects 80 percent of the American population and requires specialized care options for suffering patients. With four locations across Utah, Southwest Spine and Pain Center is the leading pain management facility in the entire southwest United States.

The researchers looked at 1200 athletic injuries of adolescent between the ages of 8 and 18 who received treatment at Loyola and Lurie Children’s Hospital. The top three injuries that physicians treated were knee injuries (31% of all cases), ankle sprains (16%), and lower back pain (15%).

Joint injuries, which include ankle sprains and knee injuries, are predictable problems in young athletes, as vigorous sports require repetitive joint movements. Lumbar fact joints are found in the lower segments of the spine, where the spine attaches to the pelvis. Stress fractures (i.e. spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis) made up 39 percent of the spine injuries in the study. Spondylolysis is a condition that occurs when a vertebrae slips out of place of the spine.

Untreated back pain is a condition that will follow a person into adulthood, To reduce the risk of lower back injuries and future chronic pain complications, consider the following recommendations from Dr. Jayanthi:

  • Take a break if you ever experience pain
  • If symptoms last longer than 2 week, seek medical attention
  • Use proper body position in every sport
  • Spend no more hours each week at your respective sport than your age (i.e an 8 year old should not spend more than 8 hours a week playing his or her sport)
  • Do no compete in sports year round. Take a break
  • Take at least one day off each week during training

If chronic pain is impacting your life, don't wait to schedule an appointment at Southwest Spine and Pain Center. With three locations and growing, the pain management specialists at Southwest Spine and Pain Center are dedicated to helping those who suffer from chronic pain live the life they want to! To schedule an appointment, visit our locations tab!

The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.

©Southwest Spine and Pain Center, 2014

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