Sports and Your Child’s Back
Greg Wood started at quarterback for the Baylor University Bears in 1977 and 1978. He broke his neck and had threeconcussions.
Today, Wood is an orthopedic spine surgeon with three children who are,
or were, athletes. He’s seen his share of sports injuries. The most
common spinal cord injury in pre-teen and teen athletes, says Wood, is a vertebral stress fracture. “What I call a fatigue fracture,” he says.
Seven percent of the general population gets them versus 17 percent of
youth athletes.
Genetics is a factor, but repeated stress to a still-maturing spine
makes it “vulnerable” to fractures, Wood says.
Young athletes don’t always get enough recuperative time between competitions and “the bone just gives out and cracks,” he says.
Pain emerges and parents may think it’s a pulled muscle. But if
complaints persist more than two weeks, it’s time to see the doctor.
X-rays won’t always show the fracture; specialized diagnosis is required.
Serious rest plus wearing a brace might avoid surgery.
Wood also cautions against youths lifting weights too early. “I’m not
basing this on anything scientific, and some coaches will not like what
I’m saying, but I don’t think that skeletally immature boys should be
doing dead lifts, squats, or clean and presses or clean and jerks.”
For those worried that their 5th or 6th grade son may hurt his spine in
football, there probably is not “enough mass moving fast enough to
create catastrophic injuries,” says Wood.
After 8th grade, the chance is higher due to harder hitting by heavier
bodies.
And don’t confuse a “stinger” (a pulled nerve network in the neck and
shoulders) for a spinal injury. Stingers should be temporary and
athletes can return to competition when all of their symptoms have resolved.
Proper precautions and awareness, says Wood, helps insure that “the
benefits of sports far outweigh the risks. It’s worth it.” SS
Dr. Greg Wood is with the NewSouth NeuroSpine, a comprehensive spine
group scheduled to move into a new Flowood Drive building in July.