Back pain and radiological changes in the thoraco‐lumbar spine of athletes. A long‐term follow‐up

Abstract

From 1996 to 1999, back pain and radiological changes in the thoraco-lumbar spine were investigated in 134 former top athletes, representing wrestling, gymnastics, soccer and tennis (age 27-39 years) and a group of 28 non-athletes of comparable age. This is a long-term follow-up investigation of a previous radiological study of the spine with clinical

Frequency of spondylolysis and chronic low back pain in young soccer players

“…5,6,9 Its physiopathology has not been explained in detail, but the hypothesis that it is a stress fracture caused by excessive load is widely accepted. 4,10,11 Anatomical and biomechanical changes to the positioning of the sacrum in relation to the ground, the degree of lordosis, occult spina bifida, and family history are other possible factors in the development of this change. 6,9,12,13 Its prevalence in the general population is between 3% and 5% and in young athletes it can reach as high as 60%, depending on the sport involved.…”

“…1,2,4 In addition to the type of sport, the incidence of low back pain in athletes depends on other factors such as intensity, frequency, and training technique, among others. 4,5 In most cases, it presents in an acute and self-limiting form, caused mainly by injuries to the ligaments and paraspinal muscles. The persistence of symptoms in young athletes may suggest other diagnostic hypotheses, especially spondylolysis [5][6][7][8] and degenerative disc disease.…”

“…[1][2][3] The association between the practice of sports and the development of spinal injuries is established in the literature, particularly in impact sports and those requiring repetitive flexion-extension movements, rotation, and axial load. [2][3][4] Weightlifters, boxers, golfers, gymnasts, and dancers are the athletes most affected by these clinical and radiographic changes. 1,2,4 In addition to the type of sport, the incidence of low back pain in athletes depends on other factors such as intensity, frequency, and training technique, among others.…”

“…[2][3][4] Weightlifters, boxers, golfers, gymnasts, and dancers are the athletes most affected by these clinical and radiographic changes. 1,2,4 In addition to the type of sport, the incidence of low back pain in athletes depends on other factors such as intensity, frequency, and training technique, among others. 4,5 In most cases, it presents in an acute and self-limiting form, caused mainly by injuries to the ligaments and paraspinal muscles.…”

“…The persistence of symptoms in young athletes may suggest other diagnostic hypotheses, especially spondylolysis [5][6][7][8] and degenerative disc disease. [2][3][4] Spondylolysis is a bone defect of the posterior neural arch and in 95% of cases it affects the pars interarticularis of L5. 5,6,9 Its physiopathology has not been explained in detail, but the hypothesis that it is a stress fracture caused by excessive load is widely accepted.…”