Low back pain in the athlete. From spondylogenic injury during recreation or competition.

Low back pain is a common complaint of athletes, and accurate diagnosis is essential, since many causes of back problems can lead to disability. If the obvious mechanical causes, such as muscle strain, "kissing spines," and leg-length inequality, have been ruled out, the more serious sources of low back pain, such as disk herniation, Scheuermann's disease (swimmer's back), compression fractures of the vertebral body, and stress fractures of the posterior elements, should be considered. Treatment goals for all these disorders include pain relief and prevention of further injury.