{"id":18033,"date":"2014-02-05T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2014-02-05T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/\/\/uncategorized\/low-back-pain-a-guide-for-coaches-and-athletes-on-anatomy-types-and-treatment"},"modified":"2021-11-22T01:07:50","modified_gmt":"2021-11-22T06:07:50","slug":"low-back-pain-a-guide-for-coaches-and-athletes-on-anatomy-types-and-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/low-back-pain-a-guide-for-coaches-and-athletes-on-anatomy-types-and-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"Low Back Pain: A Guide for Coaches and Athletes on Anatomy, Types, and Treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"

When I practiced massage therapy, clients frequently came to me seeking treatment for lower back pain<\/a>. Now, as a coach, I see that coaches will encounter many athletes with back pain, as well. In order to best help your clientele, it\u2019s important for coaches to understand the muscles of the back, what can cause back pain, and treatments (after physical therapy, of course)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

When I practiced massage therapy, clients frequently came to me seeking treatment for lower back pain<\/a>. Now, as a coach, I see that coaches will encounter many athletes with back pain, as well. In order to best help your clientele, it\u2019s important for coaches to understand the muscles of the back, what can cause back pain, and treatments (after physical therapy, of course)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Anatomy of the Back<\/h2>\n

The back is extensive and consists of many muscles<\/a> that run all the way up to the occipitus. Before going into the musculature, we have to know the vertebral column<\/strong>. The vertebral column consists of seven cervical discs, twelve thoracic discs, five lumbar discs, and then the sacrum, which is a fusion of five discs.<\/p>\n

The discs of the vertebral column gradually get bigger in size, with the cervical spine being the smallest of the disc structures<\/strong>. Cervical discs, thoracic discs, and lumbar discs have similar structures – including the lamina groove, spinous process, body, transverse process, and vertebral foramen.<\/p>\n

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The most common piece of back musculature that most people are familiar with is the thoracolumbar aponeurosis. An aponeurosis is a tendon that is a sheet-like structure that is long and cable-like.<\/p>\n

Other muscular structures of the back include the erector spinae, multifidi and rotatores, longissimus, spinalis thoracis, iliocostalis, serratus posterior inferior, quadratus lumborum, intertransversarii (located between the transverse process), and iliopsoas.<\/p>\n

Many include iliopsoas with the muscles of the hip area, but when it comes to back pain, often the source of the pain comes from the psoas (that\u2019s short for iliopsoas)<\/strong>. We will also examine how the lower body muscles, like the hamstrings, have a huge impact<\/a> on back pain.<\/p>\n

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Types of Back Pain and Injuries<\/h2>\n

There are many types of back pain, so we will go over sports-related injuries that occur with back pain and their symptoms:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Back Muscle Strain\/Back Ligament Sprain<\/h2>\n

In my personal practice, this is the most common type of back pain I see. This condition involves a stretch or tear of one or more back muscles, ligaments, or tendons. The cause is usually a violent twist, jerking motion, or over-extension of the back muscles during a lifting session or even during bodyweight movement (think violent kips<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The problem with this type of injury is that if the athlete is not fully rehabilitated, the chances are extremely high for it to develop into chronic lower back pain<\/strong>. All you athletes who like to go to, maybe, two physical therapy sessions and go back to training – it may not be in your best interest to half-ass your therapy.<\/p>\n

If you want to go back to training, follow the treatment plans of your physical therapist, massage therapist, or chiropractor<\/a> before going full force into training.<\/p>\n

Herniate<\/strong>d Nucleus Pulposus (HNP)<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This type of injury is where preventative care is most important (and we will go over that part more). Excessive weight bearing and stress can damage the intervertebral discs. These round flat cushions act as a shock absorber between each vertebra in your spine.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately for us, we only have one disc between each vertebra. Each disc has an outer ring of fibers called the annulus and a jelly-like center called the nucleus pulposus. A herniated disc causes pressure to the disc\u2019s outer fiber causing it to rip and for the nucleus to rupture out of its normal space<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Symptoms of this condition include numbness, change in reflexes, and tingling in extremities. This type of injury<\/a> requires that the athlete see a sports medicine doctor or chiropractor for treatment.<\/p>\n

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Spondylolysis<\/h2>\n

As of right now there is no definitive cause of this disorder. Spondyloysis can be found in children as a bone defect or in adults as an injury.<\/strong> Spondyloysis is commonly found in those who participate in sports that have frequent hyperextension of the lumbar spine.<\/p>\n

Spondylolysis can be asymptomatic, but if symptoms occur the condition usually feels like chronic back pain. The pain can stem from mechanical (structural) or compression (pressure on the nerves). Suggested treatment is physical therapy or chiropractic care<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Mec<\/strong>hanical Lower Back Pain<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This may sound like its not an injury at all, but it is a frequent condition among athletes. Symptoms include general back pain, stiffness, and restricted motion. Usually the pain is localized to a specific area and without nerve pain.<\/p>\n

There are several causes including past injuries<\/a> that have not healed, anatomical abnormalities, faulty posture, and poor physical conditioning.<\/p>\n

The concern with this type of injury is that because of the pain the athlete will unconsciously not engage the muscles of the back to perform activities and exercises, which only worsens the situation<\/strong>. With this type of injury it will be best to see a physical therapist regularly.<\/p>\n

Preventative Care for Back Pain<\/h2>\n

There are many treatments for back pain that a physical therapist, doctor, nurse practitioner, physician\u2019s assistant, or chiropractor will give you. Whatever the treatment you have elected, you should always follow your practitioners program in its entirety.<\/p>\n

So the real question becomes what an athlete should do before needing treatment or after completing treatment<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Preventative care is extremely important<\/a> for athletes especially if they want to be competitive. Physical therapists, doctors, and chiropractors can catch certain symptoms before they start and begin rehabilitation at the sign of a problem<\/strong>. They can also educate athletes on how to prevent injuries from occurring.<\/p>\n

A study<\/a> was conducted in the Journal of Chiropractic and Osteopathic College of Australasia<\/em> on the role of chiropractors as educators for preventative back injuries in the work place. In the study, chiropractors lectured participants on spinal injuries and how they could be prevented, including risk factors for injury and workplace awareness (so think gym-place awareness and athlete risk-factors).<\/p>\n

The cost of reported back injuries went down by 57%. The dollar amount allocated to treatment was $451 in the six months prior to the training from the chiropractors \u2013 and only $194 in the first three months after. This is proof that getting educated on caring for your lower back can save your money and your gym performance<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Gym Guide to Low Back Health<\/h2>\n

Your time in the gym can be valuable in either preventing low back problems or rehabilitating them. But first and foremost, always be cleared by your therapist before going full force into the gym. You must start slowly when coming back from injury<\/strong>. Athletes often feel they can come back to the gym and do a hundred back extensions, when in reality, getting back up to speed is something that must happen slowly<\/a>.<\/p>\n

There are certain specific things to consider when it comes to lower back health<\/strong>:<\/p>\n