When people think of athletes with back pain, they mosty think of pain in the neck or lower back. As a result, the middle part of the spine, called the thoracic spine, is commonly overlooked. But just as other regions of the back, the mid-spine can negatively impact a young athlete's performance and risk of injury.
Why is the mid-back area so important to athletes? Why types of problems can occur? What can be done to reduce risk of injury and improve performance?
In terms of importance, you only have to watch a golfer bring back a driver or a baseball pitcher winding up to throw to see the strain these rotating motions put on the mid-spine and supporting muscles. An injury to the thoracic spine or supporting structures will negatively affect the athlete's ability to generate velocity with rotation.
One reason young athletes are prone to problems with the mid-back is that, in spite of core training programs, most don't maintain good posture over the course of the day. Whether at school or home, sitting in a slouched position causes the muscles to weaken in the mid- and lower trapezoid muscles and to tighten the middle back.
The major concern with a tight middle back is that an athlete, in order to produce the required athletic movement (golf swing, pitch) will likely try to compensate by increasing rotation in the lower back. Unfortunately, the lower back (lumbar region of the spine) has limited ability to rotate, so that the extra strain puts increased pressure on lumbar discs (which can rupture or bulge, putting pressure on the sciatic nerve). Furthermore, the lack of mobility in the upper part of the thoracic spine causes hypermobility in the lower part of the cervical spine, leading to neck and back pain, the cause of which is actually the result of tightness in the mid-back.
An athlete experiencing any of the following symptoms may have a medical condition that should be evaluated by a physician:
Posted May 20, 2013
Links:
[1] https://www.momsteam.com/node/4316
[2] https://www.momsteam.com/health-safety/lower-back-injuries-in-female-athletes-identifying-cause-rehabilitating-problem
[3] https://www.momsteam.com/team-experts/physical-therapy-injured-athlete-pressure-to-pain-not-pain-and-torture
[4] https://www.momsteam.com/team-experts/evaluating-pain-during-sports-injury-recovery-process