Short-term outcome of conservative treatment in athletes with symptomatic lumbar disc herniation.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to clarify the efficacy of conservative treatment in athletes with symptomatic lumbar disc herniation, especially in terms of their ability to return to their original sporting activities.

Design: A total of 71 consecutive athletes (53 men and 18 women), who consulted our sports medicine clinic during the 10-yr period between September 1993 and October 2003 because of severe low back pain or leg pain/numbness due to lumbar disc herniation (confirmed on magnetic resonance images), were studied. The mean age of the subjects was 21 yrs.

Relationship between radiographic abnormalities of lumbar spine and incidence of low back pain in high school and college football players: a prospective study.

Background: Low back pain is a common presenting symptom among players of American football. In Japan, however, skeletal disorders in football players, including low back problems, have been rarely studied, and management to prevent skeletal disorders has not been established.

Study Design: An epidemiological study with prospective observation.