Low Back Pain During Volleyball
A common complaint with my volleyball athletes is low back pain. Now adolescent low back pain should never be taken lightly, so this topic certainly deserves some discussion and attention. Not ALL low back pain in our youth is dangerous, but appropriate diagnosis and evaluation is paramount. Let’s dive into the main things I listen for in subjective questioning and what I look for objectively when evaluating low back pain in volleyball players and the youth population in general.
When considering adolescent low back pain, some immediate considerations are in play. Bilateral neural symptoms (both sides and into legs/pelvic region), bowel and bladder changes, functional loss of muscle in legs are all things I would immediately refer-out for medical attention. It may seem like this is obvious referral, but with direct access physical therapy in Minnesota, I am often the first provider seen. What I am considering next to rule OUT are spinal fractures such as a spondylolisthesis. This is a forward slip of a vertebrae due to fractures at the level of the spine. Depending on the severity of this, there are different routes of treatment. A very positive thing about this is MANY of these improve with conservative care with a heavy dose of physical therapy. These present most commonly with pain when bending backwards, very isolated/localized pain on one side of the spine, objective spinal hinging noted when bending (therapist evaluation), pain with impact activity (running and jumping), and occasionally pain with vibration (I utilize a tuning fork test in clinic though research does not give us full reliability on this test). X-rays or MRIs can confirm a spondylolisthesis for full diagnosis.
Now let’s assume we rule all of these things OUT. Great, we proceed aggressively with physical therapy for treating this low back pain. A full evaluation would be needed to truly decipher the main areas of limitation, but commonly I see deficits in control of low back extension, lack of low back strength, and a combination of lack of hip mobility as well as hip flexor strength. As a reminder, these are all generalized findings I am mentioned from what I commonly see and treat to get improvements in these cases, but certainly success is not immediate with just focusing on these pieces.
Looking for assistance in treating your low back pain? Let’s chat! I would be happy to discuss further how Loon State Physical Therapy can be a teammate in getting you back to moving and feeling your best! Our convenient Minneapolis physical therapy and Edina physical therapy locations will happily see you to get you back to moving at your best. Call us at (612) 405-8503 or book with us online at www.loonstatephysicaltherapy.com for an in-person or virtual appointment.
Until next time!
Andrew Eccles
Owner and Physical Therapist at Loon State Physical Therapy
