Most common back injuries
Around 85% of people will experience back pain at some point in their lives. Almost all will recover well.
Acute back pain can occur during daily activities, without any clear reason to explain why. Back pain can also happen following a kick or fall.
Back Pain
About 85% of the population will experience back pain at some point in their lives. Almost everyone recovers within three months. About half will have a relapse, while a few end up with chronic pain. Back pain is common in sports such as cross-country skiing, rowing, and tennis, and often affects athletic performance.
98% of acute back pain has no clear cause. Sometimes it can result from a specific incident, such as a blow, kick, or fall, while other times the cause is unknown.
A thorough, systematic examination by a doctor or physical therapist will help rule out serious illness. Only 1–2% of back pain has a serious underlying cause.
If you experience acute back pain, it may be wise to adjust painful activities during the first few days. After that, it’s important to resume activity to get better. At first, it’s completely normal and harmless to experience some pain when you’re moving.
Contact a physical therapist if you’re unsure about how much activity you can handle.
Back pain with nerve root irritation
Herniated discs causing nerve root irritation account for only 5–10% of all back pain and are most common in the 20–50 age group. Men are more susceptible than women.
A herniated disc can occur anywhere in the spine but is most common in the lower back. It is not entirely clear why some people develop a herniated disc, but age and genetics likely play an important role.
A herniated disc with nerve irritation is diagnosed through a systematic clinical examination by a doctor or physical therapist. Imaging tests are usually not necessary.
Believe it or not, this condition improves on its own over time. A herniated disc with nerve irritation can take up to 3 months before the pain subsides. In some cases, it takes longer. When experiencing nerve pain, it is normal for symptoms to vary significantly from time to time.
Stress Fractures of the Spine
Up to 50% of young people with back pain have a stress fracture in the spine.
It was previously believed that this condition was hereditary or congenital, but this theory has been discarded. As described above, it appears that stress fractures most likely occur
Growing adolescents are particularly at risk, as their bone structure is not yet fully developed.
A stress fracture in the spine is difficult to detect during a clinical examination by a doctor or physical therapist. If the pain has recently developed, an X-ray may not be able to detect the fracture either.
The athlete must be withdrawn from the sport that caused the condition for at least 12 weeks. This applies regardless of whether the pain subsides during this period. The bone tissue must be given time to heal. In the meantime, the athlete can stay in shape by engaging in alternative, pain-free forms of exercise. For example, cycling, swimming, and general strength training.
For some athletes, it may be appropriate to check nutritional status via a blood test. Low levels of calcium and vitamin D affect bone density and can thus increase the risk of stress fractures. Measures regarding diet and dietary supplements should then be implemented.
