Playing sports can be dangerous and there are many that have several types of injuries associated with them, though, perhaps one that is somewhat of a common denominator which people probably don’t think about is back injuries.

When you think about it, the back has an important role to play in virtually every contact sport that there is (arguably, even non-contact sports). Many elite athletes, especially at professional level are often well looked after with team or individual physiotherapists and routine treatment.

Below, we’ve narrowed down on how important the back is across a number of sports, the problems that are caused and why this is.

Sporting Posterior Issues Of The Treatment Room

One of the most dangerous sports for the back, is arguably rugby. Whether it is rugby league or rugby union, both have the potential to do harm and many retired players have been the victims of recurring back pain.

Due to the highly physical and aggressive nature of the sport, a mistimed tackle by a fraction of a second can cause substantial damage to the back especially given the speed at which the sport is played as well. Common injuries include slipped discs and stress fractures due to constant pushing and hyperextension.

Weightlifting is another sport that puts a significant amount of strain on the back and, as a result, athletes often wear supportive gear that helps as much as possible, to prevent injuries, though this isn’t fool proof. Injuries such as acute muscle spasms can occur if there is considerable intensity.

Sports where there is a focus on rotation also have significant impact on the back, especially after a long period of time. In 2024, tennis player, Andy Murray had to withdraw from Wimbledon after surgery to remove a spinal cyst started to cause nerve compression and loss of power in his leg, while Andre Agassi long-suffered with back problems.

Just had successful back surgery. I’ve come back from injuries before and I will again. http://t.co/jZeL6By5EY

— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) September 18, 2015

Over the last few years, golfer, Tiger Woods, a champion many times over, has had a long list of recurring injuries such was the intensity of his play in his early years with many of these being back niggles that have affected his game.

Preventing Back Injuries In Sport

Many athletes naturally have access to some of the best advice from an injury prevention and treatment perspective and many will likely recommend a particular type of bed and support such as a queen mattress or memory foam; it will likely depend on the sport as well.

A regular massage every week can also help with the prevention of back injuries, as this can relax and help to repair the muscle tissue affected by extreme physical activity. Every sport will have its own particular area of the back that is affected. Rowing for example is a sport that has one of the highest rates of lower back injuries due to the physical nature and strain involved for that region and the repetitive motion of the body. It has to be said though, the back comprises a collection of some of the most important muscles and nerves in the body and sports can affect these considerably.