Pars Stress Fracture
Pars stress fractures occur in young athletes involved in
repetitive bending and straightening of the spine. They are generally
self-limited and get better with rest followed by rehabilitation. A specific
stretching and spinal stabilization program is important to allow the athlete to
successfully return to his or her sport.
Studies Show:
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30% of adolescents involved in sports will have an
episode of low back pain
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Pars stress fracture, also called lumbar spondylolysis,
is one of the causes of low back pain in this age group of athletes
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Athletes involved in sports requiring repetitive
bending and straightening of the spine such as football linemen, divers, and
gymnasts are most commonly affected
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Most patients have excellent clinical outcomes with
conservative measures, and surgery is rarely necessary
What you should know:
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Spondylolysis is derived from the Greek word spondylo,
which means vertebrae, and lysis, which means fracture
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Pars refers to the specific part of the spine
involved, known as the pars interarticularis, and stress fracture refers to
the response of the bone to the stress of repetitive loading
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The pain can be sharp at first then more dull and
achy. It is usually aggravated by standing, bending backward, or
repetitively and forcefully extending the spine
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Plain x-rays, bone or SPECT scans, CT, or MRI have all
been used to diagnose the problem
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Patients are advised to stop the activity or sport
that evokes the back pain for up to 12 weeks, and may need a brace if pain
is not adequately relieved
What you can do:
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