Can A Soccer Player Recover From A Back Injury?
Soccer is a popular sports activity, but it can increase the likelihood of injuries and problems, with 36% of athletes complaining of lower back pain. Unfortunately, spine injuries and chronic back pain can prevent athletes from playing the sport, or at worst, end the career of professionals. The good news is that there is something you can do to improve the symptoms and recover from a body injury due to participation in the sport. In addition to the standard protocol of pain medication and rest, surgery, rehabilitation and non-surgical intervention can help a soccer player recover and get back in the game.
Causes Of Back Pain
There are several causes of back pain among soccer players. One is a herniated disk, bearing force on the sciatic nerve, a common source of pain. Another medical condition affecting the lower back is spondylolysis or spondylolisthesis, which suggests a stress fracture of the pars interarticularis, a thin bone segment. The twisting and arching movements in soccer can lead to spondylolisthesis due to repeated flexing, causing a dull or painful sensation in the lower back.
Other possible causes include leg length discrepancy, asymmetry of the pelvis, or rotation of the sacroiliac joint. Pelvis misalignment can be caused by twisting movement and injuries, such as those made while playing soccer, while sacroiliac joint pain happens because the ligaments are too loose or too tight. Falling, car accidents, surgery, pregnancy and childbirth can cause the condition. On the other hand, a limb length discrepancy (LLD) is very common. You might have been born with a condition that caused one leg to grow slower than the other, or something may have happened during childhood that affected the length of the bone. Lower back pain is a general symptom of LLD.
Treatment For Back Pain
Soccer players who experience back pain have several options to alleviate the symptoms. One is to go for chiropractic adjustments to promote healing and prevent the pain from coming back. Resting to provide a break from acute pain is also advised. However, too much rest is also not ideal as it can worsen the ache. Hence, it is recommended to limit bed rest to short periods of time, as well as encourage movement. Being mobile improves blood flow, helping the vertebrae function and heal. In addition, prolonged bed rest slows down recovery and increases other risks such as deep blood clots and loss of muscle tone.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be taken as well to provide relief, but it should be noted that, while they can alleviate the pain, they will not intensify the healing process. However, exercise will increase blood flow so that the spine gets the impetus it needs to heal. Herniated disks may require surgery, and with a good rehab plan, can get an athlete back in the game after eight weeks.
For pain that is related to structural disorders, visits to a physical therapist are suggested. Leg discrepancies are addressed using leg inserts, training adjustments or surgery. Sacroiliac joint dysfunction is controlled using non-surgical treatments focusing on relieving pain. Anti-inflammatory drugs, epidural steroid injections, and physical therapy exercises are options to treat spondylolisthesis.
The bottom line is, soccer players can resume their activities if back pain is addressed properly. Depending on the origin of the problem, there are several treatment options available - from rest and pain medications to therapy and surgery.
How Your Team Can Prevent Running Injuries
At least half of all runners injure themselves each year. Whether it be falls, trauma, or overuse, athletes constantly suffer unnecessary injuries on and off the soccer field. Luckily, you can prevent most twists, strains, sprains and tears by conditioning, resting and practicing good form. Incorporating techniques, methods and tools to avoid injury will ultimately help players train harder, play better and stay off the bench.
Knee Strengthening and Injury Reduction
Try these 5 exercises to strengthen the muscles around the knee and reduce the risk of injury.
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