Chronic Low Back Pain In The Athlete
The major source of most chronic low back pain is structural weakness or failure caused by repetitive microtraumas. With the stress and strain they subject their bodies to on the field, track, green, etc., athletes and “weekend warriors” are at greater risk. Structural weaknesses and the resulting microtrauma effects can be seen in the bones and joints, and also in the connective tissues.
That’s why treatment requires a multi-modal approach. For most cases of chronic low back pain, the ‘A-S-R’program has been shown to be affective effective: Adjustments, Support, and Rehabilitation.
Goals: Decreased pain; increased movement and agility
Activity: Running, Jumping, Pivoting, Throwing etc
Adjustments to the affected bones and joints are determined/performed by the chiropractic professional.
Support comes from custom-made, flexible functional orthotics, which are scientifically designed for the individual’s unique postural problems. For athletes, I recommend Foot Levelers’ XP3 or XP3+; the former is ultra-lightweight and features MPAX throughout, an innovative material that absorbs up to 90 percent of shock upon impact to shield the athlete from further pain and strain. XP3+ features double the amount of MPAX and MPAX Pro to improve propulsion at toe-off. For teens, the new AM7 custom-made functional orthotic should be considered.
Rehab should focus on developing strength in the abdominals and supporting pelvic and low-back muscles. This can also enhance the shock-absorbing properties of the tissues. Foot Levelers’ BACKSYS® exercise program is especially suited for low-back rehabilitation.
