Abstract
Recent advances in research, patient assessment, and rehabilitation have changed the management of spine trauma and in general the outcome of patients with back pain. Little has been written about spinal disorders in athletes. Nevertheless, this pathology has significant effects on the athlete population. Moreover, athletes place higher demands on their spine and cannot tolerate limitations of their activities. Strong forces are exerted on the cervical and lumbar spine during various athletic maneuvers and may cause catastrophic injuries. Chronic back pain also has a significant impact on athletes and may compromise their performance. Considering these factors, prompt diagnosis and assessment of patients with spine trauma or chronic back pain are mandatory, as are rehabilitation and return to activities. This chapter discusses the main issues related to cervical and lumbar spine injuries, the return to play, after these kinds of traumas, and the management of chronic back pain in the athlete population.
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Maiello, A., Smucker, J.D. (2011). Spinal Disorders in Sports Medicine. In: Margheritini, F., Rossi, R. (eds) Orthopedic Sports Medicine. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-1702-3_35
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-1702-3_35
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