Drs. Alexander Vaccaro, Greggory Schroeder pen Sports Illustrated spine injury article: 5 key notes

Spine

Rothman Institute President Alexander Vaccaro, MD, and physician Greggory Schroeder, MD, penned an article in Sports Illustrated as part of a series of sports medicine articles. This article focuses on back pain in professional athletes.

Here are five key notes from the article:

 

1. Spinal issues are common among elite athletes. There are around 85 percent of Olympic athletes that have lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration or disc herniations, according to MRI testing. There are also around 14 percent of NFL combine attendees who report pre-existing lumbar spine diagnoses.

 

2. Spinal injuries such as spondylolysis of the pars interarticularis in the posterior aspect of the lower back often occur during adolescence, but there are people who don't develop symptoms until adulthood. These athletes can include football players and gymnasts.

 

3. Athletes with herniated discs often undergo conservative treatment first, including rest and anti-inflammatory medications. Some undergo surgery if symptoms persist and more than 80 percent of athletes who develop intervertebral disc issues can return to sports activities.

 

4. Maintaining proper technique can help prevent injuries, and recognizing symptoms and seeking early medical treatment keeps these issues from worsening.

 

5. Muscle strains in the back are another common injury, especially for athletes that have heavy loads to lift and those with rapid twists or flexion/extension. Proper technique can prevent some injuries, and stretching combined with light cardiovascular exercise before strenuous athletic activity helps as well.

 

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