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Abstract

Background: Low back pain can be a tough injury to endure, especially in the growing high school athlete.3 LBP in a high school athlete can be caused by various factors, such as structural deformities, mobility deficits, and so much more. The majority of LBP in adolescents is nonspecific LBP, which is defined as LBP that does not cause systemic or structural changes.5 Nonspecific LBP is often a result of other etiologies such as hypermobile or hypomobile segments of the spine, hip mobility deficits, gait, sleeping positions, or improper weightlifting form. Differential Diagnoses: Other possible diagnoses of LBP in adolescents could be spondylolysis, spondylolisthesis, slipped vertebral apophysis, or fractures of the thoracolumbar spine.1 High school athletes who are diagnosed with hypermobilty of the lumbar spine can be treated conservatively by being prescribed stability exercises and manual techniques. Treatment: A 17- year-old male basketball player came to the athletic training room complaining of left lower back pain of 3 weeks. He reported pain with prolonged sitting, pain while getting dressed, and pain while lifting weights. The patient reported feeling this same type of pain during previous basketball seasons as well. The athlete did not seek treatment for his low back pain in the previous seasons as he reported it was intermittent. During examination, it was discovered that the patient had limited lumbar range of motion in left side bending and left rotation at end range. The patient also had an upslip of the left innominate and the left quadratus lumborum had increased muscle tone. A combination of manual techniques and strengthening of the hip and lower back muscles were used to improve the patient’s pain and stabilize the patient’s hypermobility at L4-L5. 6 After completing 12 rehab sessions over 4 weeks, the athlete was able to perform at his maximal level with no pain. The athlete’s asterisk signs, a squat and full court sprints, had significantly improved and no longer caused the athlete any pain. Uniqueness: The athlete presented with LBP that was a result of a hyper mobile L4-L5 segment. The athlete’s age and activity levels were large factors in the athlete’s diagnoses. The athlete responded well to stability exercises, as well as manual techniques performed by the clinician. Conclusion: This case shows that a combination of manual therapy and stabilization exercises are best to manage non-specific LBP.6 The patient responded well to attending rehab 3 times a week for 4 weeks and was able to perform at his maximum level with no pain.

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