Causes of ATHLETES HAVING
“BACK PAIN”

Muscular:    Did you know that approximately 95% of all lower back pain in athletes is due to muscular weakness.  There is really only two ways to ever become injured.

1.      Is through a car wreck or fall, causing a sudden jolt or impact to the body.
2.   Something that is done over and over again, causing the break down of  tissue over a long period of time.

  Leg length discrepancy:    This is the most common cause of back pain in running sports and is most often overlooked.  As little difference as ¼ inch can cause symptoms in athletes typically on the side of the longer leg, but not always.  Some symptoms could be on the opposite side or short leg causing symptoms such as SI Joint Dysfunction, IT Band Syndrome, Gate discrepancy, chronic pulled hamstring and Plantar Fascitis, just to mention a few.    Putting a heal lift in the shoe of the short leg should never be done until a through examination has determined that the shortness is caused by an anatomical difference, (i.e. you were born that way.)  There are ways to correct this problem.  The only way to balance out the pelvic structure and make sure that both legs are the same length is through a technique called myofascial release.  This technique should only be preformed by a therapist that has the training to determine where and how the fascia is to be stretched.  It is very important that the procedure is done correctly.   If not, the patient could have and increase in pain and discomfort.   If left untreated for a period of time, the athlete could have a domino effect of injuries throughout the body, possibly causing the athlete to be on the side- line cheering others on.

Ruptured disc: There is a difference between a “ruptured” disc and a “herniated” disc.   A ruptured disc is one that has begun to leak fluid, such as poking a hole in a water filled balloon, and the water begins to leak slowly.  If the balloon represents the disc, when all the water is gone out of the balloon you are left with bone on bone.  A herniated disc is one that is not leaking, but has pressure being place on all or part of the disc forcing the disc to protrude outward away form its normal alignment between the vertebras.  This puts pressure against the nerve thus causing pain.   If you take your hand and place it on top of the water filled balloon, applying pressure in a downward direction, you have simulated a bulging disc.   Most disc problems take place around the L4 – L5 area and usually the pain will vary according to the vertebra level of disc injury.  Often rest with  specific therapy such as ultra-sound, myofascial release and ice is an excellent combination for herniated disc problems.  Then the right kind of exercises can be prescribed.  A ruptured disc is a different story.  Depending upon the level of rupture and its location, surgery sometimes is the answer but only after all others measurers of therapy and a carefully planned rehab program of therapy and back strengthening exercises have been preformed and exalted.

Concrete thoughts to the complete rehabilitation of the lower back:  A balanced workout program that focuses on the abdominals, accompanied with lower back, hamstring and quadriceps exercises, will build strength in the musculature to support the spine and protect the disc.  As with any workout program, flexibility by stretching is as important as building strength and tone, but balance is the key.  One should never make up the majority of the athletes or patients workout or rehab program.