Throwing sports and injuries involving the young athlete's Spine

Abstract

In the pediatric and adolescent throwing/overhead athlete, injuries of the thoracolumbar spine are frequent, in part due to the multifactorial nature of spinal injuries at this age, including: rapid periods of growth which contribute to loss of flexibility and strength imbalances; the skeletal immaturity of the young athlete's spine; the volume and intensity of organized sports participation due to the recent trend of year-round training, multiple teams, and sport specialization at a young age; poor throwing mechanics and improper technique; and inadequate periods of recovery and "relative rest" due to the demands and pressures of youth sport participation. This chapter provides an in-depth review of: the kinetic chain as it relates to the biomechanics of throwing; the functional anatomy and biomechanical interaction of the pelvis, thoracolumbar spine, and scapulothoracic articulation in the throwing/overhead athlete; the presentation of thoracolumbar spinal injuries in throwing/overhead youth athletes; and the treatment and return-to-play issues pertaining to various throwing and overhead sports.