Sports back pain can be an unfortunate occurrence for athletes of all ages and abilities. Professional athletes and weekend warriors alike might suffer from a sports-related dorsal pain condition at some time in their lives. Some sporting activities are particularly risky to the spinal structures and back muscles. In these circumstances, it is important to always follow safety procedures in order to minimize the chance for serious injury.
Although the spine is very strong and resistant to trauma, concentrated force can do considerable damage to even the best conditioned athlete. Luckily, most sports injuries are minor and will not create lasting or severe pain. However, it is always wise to get any back injury evaluated by a qualified physician or physical therapist.
This essay discusses sports-related back, neck and sciatica pain that might be caused by a wide range of possible sources.
Sports Back Pain Injuries
Most sports injuries are muscular in nature. Back muscle pain can be agonizing, but is rarely a serious occurrence.
Herniated discs are also possible from certain sporting pastimes. Disc injuries seldom cause long-term pain, but any suspected disc problem should be evaluated by a doctor immediately, just to be safe.
Compressive neuropathy and sciatica are common side effects of many back injuries. Both can sideline athletes for an extended duration, so proper treatment is always recommended.
Psychological back pain is also a big problem for many athletes, since fierce competition can bring out emotions known to create mindbody syndromes. You would be amazed how many professional athletes have been treated for pain conditions which have been linked to performance anxiety or the fear of failure. These mindbody issues are rarely diagnosed by traditional medical care providers, but can often be discovered by sports psychologists, pain coaches and enlightened performance trainers.
High Risk Sports Increase Risk of Pain
Any sport can cause a back injury. Some sports have a higher incidence of injury than others. Some of the most risky sporting activities are: martial arts, judo, football, horseback riding, wrestling, weight lifting, rugby, golf and gymnastics. Baseball and basketball are also activities that involve many muscular injuries. Almost any sport has its own individual risks when it comes to the potential for causing back trauma.
Be sure to fully understand the rules, best practices and safety advisories for any sporting event in order to minimize the risk for anatomical damage and to better enjoy participation in the activity.
Preventing Sports Back Pain
The following practices can help to reduce the chances of experiencing an injury in association with active participation in any sporting pastime:
Make sure to warm up and stretch before any game or practice session.
Always use quality safety gear, padding and equipment.
Use proper technique when playing or competing.
Follow the accepted rules of the sport.
If you are involved in league or group play, try to have trained medical personnel available in case an injury occurs.
If you have a known back or spine condition, be especially careful not to re-injure it.
Likewise, if you know that you are prone to psychoemotional symptoms, be wary not to let your participation in a sporting activity facilitate a new flare-up of pain. Competition and performance anxiety can be huge problems in any sport. These can set the stage for mindbody pain syndromes to start, worsen or recur.
Sports Back Pain Tips
Professional athletes are always at risk for a back injury. One wrong move can end their career for the season or maybe forever. Teams spend huge amounts of money on the best doctors, therapists and trainers in order to prevent and treat back pain in their players.
You might not have access to the best professionals in sports medicine, but you can still benefit from their knowledge. There are many books, videos and tutorials available on every type of sport and activity. Take the time to learn from the pros. Your game will improve and you will gain valuable insight on how to prevent back pain and other injuries while competing.
Remember that serious athletes are always at particular risk for psychological symptomatic expressions. The intense pressure to perform is one of the prime causes of stress related pain.
If you are experiencing sports-related back pain that is resistant to physical treatment, you might want to try knowledge therapy as an alternative approach to finding back pain relief.
