My 14U DD has been experiencing lower back pain for approx the last half of this season with eventually being taken out of the pitching rotation. After seeing a specialist, the CT scan revealed SPONDYLOLYSIS in the L5 and L7 vertebrae. The doctor said it is a stress fracture of the bone caused by overtraining activities such as diving, football and gymnastics. My DD has been taught resistance pitching. She currently is scheduled to go to physical therapy to strenghen her back muscles and her pitching days might be over. I appreciate any advise from parents/coaches who have seen this before and am wondering if the pitching style has cause this problem.
Lower back pain
- Thread starter ppakrs1
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I am sorry to hear this. What type of surface did she practice on, mainly? (My DD and I practiced in the driveway, before we knew any better.)
Do you have any videos of her pitching?
Also, and I am sure the therapist will tell you this, she needs to strengthen the stomach muscles to aid the back muscles.
I am wondering if she has a forward dip, anywhere in her delivery?
Do you have any videos of her pitching?
Also, and I am sure the therapist will tell you this, she needs to strengthen the stomach muscles to aid the back muscles.
I am wondering if she has a forward dip, anywhere in her delivery?
My 14U DD, also had lower back pain during pre-spring workouts, earlier this year. Originally, we thought she pulled something during batting practice, but a week of rest didn't help. We went to a sports doctor that specializes in backs (most do shoulders & knees). After, a few physical tests - he said core strength was the issue (could not stay balanced doing a one-legged squat) and many times stress fractures are involved. He said this is common with young teenage female athletes, ordered 6 weeks of PT. We also did a MRI, just to be safe.
Our PT was incredible (a group that specializes in youth athletes). They narrowed it to the L4, analyzed her pitch, and found the problem. She uses her entire body and extends her arm back, with a huge leap. I had noticed in warm ups her extending back & over, behind her head. The PT fond when she did this she put pressure on the L4 on the follow through. Fixing that, along with core strenghtening solved the problem.
Hope that helps!
Our PT was incredible (a group that specializes in youth athletes). They narrowed it to the L4, analyzed her pitch, and found the problem. She uses her entire body and extends her arm back, with a huge leap. I had noticed in warm ups her extending back & over, behind her head. The PT fond when she did this she put pressure on the L4 on the follow through. Fixing that, along with core strenghtening solved the problem.
Hope that helps!
Make sure to complete her rehabilitation program, even if she doesn't fee pain anymore and there are few sessions left, finish it. Next, go to a strength and conditioning expert to give you a proper program for strength gain.
During Pitching training make sure to include a rest day during the week and program your training sched with varying intensities during the whole week. Make sure to have correct warm-up and flexibility exercises.
With the advancement of sports training and medical knowledge, Im sure she'll get back into pitching. She's young her muscles will regenerate easily.
Just remember there's a proper way of training and it should be followed.
During Pitching training make sure to include a rest day during the week and program your training sched with varying intensities during the whole week. Make sure to have correct warm-up and flexibility exercises.
With the advancement of sports training and medical knowledge, Im sure she'll get back into pitching. She's young her muscles will regenerate easily.
Just remember there's a proper way of training and it should be followed.
Spondy
I had a spondy. I was able to play a lot of years with it. I forget what grade it was. First off, it doesn't mean your daughters pitching career is over. Actually a lot of people have them. My daughter was just diagnosed with one.
You mentioned that you are going to PT to strengthen her back muscles. What I had to do, and my ortho is doing for my daughter is, strengthen her stomach muscles. Your stomach muscles are what help your posture, which in turn will help her back. She needs to strengthen her core muscles. She may always have pain, and I hate to say it, she will get used to it, especially if she wants to continue in sports.
Mine looked like a stair step, i'm assuming hers isn't that bad. One thing you don't want her to do is bend backwards, that will cause pain.
I ended up having back surgery, not because of that, but because I have degerative disk disease, that is why I said I had a spondy. It is now fused together.
Good luck, it will get better, if she does her exercises. And she will need to do them the rest of her life, if she wants to be pain free.
I had a spondy. I was able to play a lot of years with it. I forget what grade it was. First off, it doesn't mean your daughters pitching career is over. Actually a lot of people have them. My daughter was just diagnosed with one.
You mentioned that you are going to PT to strengthen her back muscles. What I had to do, and my ortho is doing for my daughter is, strengthen her stomach muscles. Your stomach muscles are what help your posture, which in turn will help her back. She needs to strengthen her core muscles. She may always have pain, and I hate to say it, she will get used to it, especially if she wants to continue in sports.
Mine looked like a stair step, i'm assuming hers isn't that bad. One thing you don't want her to do is bend backwards, that will cause pain.
I ended up having back surgery, not because of that, but because I have degerative disk disease, that is why I said I had a spondy. It is now fused together.
Good luck, it will get better, if she does her exercises. And she will need to do them the rest of her life, if she wants to be pain free.
Cheri Kemp told me years back (e-mail discussions) (and Cindy Bristow at a NC clinic states same), the traditional Open and Close, is a factor in lower back pain. Michelle Smith stresses as I am sure you've heard, 45-55 degree angles.... pitchers do NOT need to close and face FORWARD as I've taught for years! Point is Cheri Kemp states stress caused on lower back from the Open/Close mechanics causes lower back pain. ............. and absolutely, and I hope its OLD NEWS.... CORE strengthening excersises will help her posture and provide resistance to some injuries.
Spondy - Fractured L5
My Daugther has it and we shut down from pitching for six weeks(still played varsity basketball after 3 weeks), did PT (therpy) got pain free around week 3 then pitched in a college showcase a day after week six and the pain came right back. According to the ortho the xray didn't really change at week six but since she was pain free he released her. The ortho wanted her in a back brace we didn't get one.
Any suggettions????????
My Daugther has it and we shut down from pitching for six weeks(still played varsity basketball after 3 weeks), did PT (therpy) got pain free around week 3 then pitched in a college showcase a day after week six and the pain came right back. According to the ortho the xray didn't really change at week six but since she was pain free he released her. The ortho wanted her in a back brace we didn't get one.
Any suggettions????????
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My suggestion is to listen to the doctor and not a bunch of softball folks who may or may not have stayed at a Holiday Inn Express. Other then that, maybe go to a different doctor.
- Oct 22, 2009
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Mine had severe back pain at 14. MRI and CAT scans showed two severe stress fractures--She had 1 month bed/couch rest, and then another month of no activities or lifting. Not even school books.
She was told to take a year off from pitching. We made it 7 months before she begged to pitch HS. I allowed her to only if she let me know if there was any pain and she did not play on her travel team and had to take the summer off.
The only mechanical issue we thought she may have had is a slight twisting. She was remaining open with her shoulders but her hips were closing at 45 degrees. The doctor basically attributed it to growing and over use.
After she resumed pitching she never had back issues again, so don't think her career is over because of this set back.
She was told to take a year off from pitching. We made it 7 months before she begged to pitch HS. I allowed her to only if she let me know if there was any pain and she did not play on her travel team and had to take the summer off.
The only mechanical issue we thought she may have had is a slight twisting. She was remaining open with her shoulders but her hips were closing at 45 degrees. The doctor basically attributed it to growing and over use.
After she resumed pitching she never had back issues again, so don't think her career is over because of this set back.
