Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
Football players, artistic gymnasts and rhythmic gymnasts make up most of the 10-15% of young athletes that have low back pain. Low back pain patterns are different in young athletes than adults. Pars interarticularis injuries are most common and only 11% are disc related in young athletes, as compared with 48% of adult injuries being disc related. Spondylolysis is a defect in the pars interarticularis, a stress fracture from repetitive extentions and torsion of the spine. Up to 47% of young athletes with low back pain are reported to have spondylolysis occurring most often at the L5 and on the left side.
Source: Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach May/June 2009
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
Football players, artistic gymnasts and rhythmic gymnasts make up most of the 10-15% of young athletes that have low back pain. Low back pain patterns are different in young athletes than adults. Pars interarticularis injuries are most common and only 11% are disc related in young athletes, as compared with 48% of adult injuries being disc related. Spondylolysis is a defect in the pars interarticularis, a stress fracture from repetitive extentions and torsion of the spine. Up to 47% of young athletes with low back pain are reported to have spondylolysis occurring most often at the L5 and on the left side.