Viewing Low Back Pain in Athletes from Perspective of Thoracic Cage

Abstract

The incidence of low back pain is high in the general population and among athletes. When assisting athletes whose low back pain makes it difficult for them to continue participating in sports and preventing recurrence, it is important to consider the impact of joints adjacent to the low back, rather than focusing only on the affected area of the low back, since sports require full-body movement. It is important to understand joint stability and mobility based on Joint by Joint theory when treating low back pain. Mobility is required in the thorax, which consists of the sternum, ribs, and thoracic vertebrae, and decreased mobility in the thorax can cause decreased stability in the lumbar spine, a factor that can influence the development of low back pain. Thoracic mobility is especially important for trunk extension and rotation. For athletes in whom thoracic mobility is thought to be related to the development of low back pain, assessment should identify decreased mobility, and exercises should be performed to improve function. On the other hand, thoracic mobility and movement patterns vary from person to person, making it difficult to define a normal range of motion. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate and treat each athlete based on his or her athletic events and the movements that may have led to the onset of low back pain, and to consider which problems with thoracic spine mobility are associated with the onset of low back pain.