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Woman doing a variation of side plank pose

For the more than six million people in the U.S. who suffer from scoliosis, performing a basic yoga pose for a few minutes each day may dramatically improve this spinal deformity. According to Dr. Rajesh Arakal, a spine surgeon and expert on this disease at Texas Back Institute, scoliosis is an often painful condition which causes the spine to curve in an “S” shape.

This spinal deformity disease has been observed for thousands of years, but the cause and cure have been elusive. As was outlined earlier this year in this space, even royalty such as King Richard III was not immune to this debilitating disease.

“There is no cure for scoliosis,” Dr. Arakal said. “And genetic pre-disposition is the only known cause.” This bleak prognosis for those suffering from scoliosis recently got a little brighter.

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Exciting Scoliosis Research

According to a study published in a recent issue of Global Advances in Health and Medicine, spinal curvature of scoliosis patients was reduced by about 50 percent when they practiced a yoga pose known as Vasisthasana. This position is also known as a “side plank.”

Researchers noted scoliosis patients who employed this pose on the curved side can strengthen muscles in the lower back, abdomen and spine which allows the spine to straighten. This suggests patients who practice this side plank pose regularly may not need corrective bracing (the usual therapy for scoliosis) or surgery.

As noted in the article, researchers at Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City recruited 25 patients, 21 women and 4 men, ages 14 to 85 years of age. After the participants spent a week learning the pose, which involves leaning on one arm on the floor so the shoulders, hips and ankles are in a straight line, with the other arm pointing straight up, they were instructed to hold this pose for 10 to 20 seconds or longer at least once a day.

With the help of one of our TBI teammates who practices yoga, here’s how the side plank is accomplished. Just click here.

The Results Were Outstanding

The results of this simple yoga physical therapy were surprising. The x-rays, which were taken before the study was conducted, when compared with those taken three to 22 months later showed fairly dramatic improvement of the spinal curvature.

According the report, after 6.8 months of follow-up, spinal curving decreased by an average of 41 percent in 19 of the subjects who practiced the poses daily. The average improvement in the group was 32 percent.

Portrait Of Multi Ethnic Students

“The most exciting part of this study involved the improvement among adolescents,” said Dr. Arakal. “It is during adolescence when most scoliosis is diagnosed and this study showed curved reduction among regular practitioners was highest in the seven teenage subjects – 49.6 percent compared to 38.4 percent in adults.”

As with most strength building exercise, repetition seems to be important with this therapy. Those participants who performed the side plank fewer than four days a week improved by an average of only 0.5 percent.

Dr. Arakal noted the benefits of this type of exercise.

“When there is scoliosis deformity, the nerve pathways change,” he said. “This side plank pose helps to re-center them.  It also works isometrically to build the strength in the oblique muscles which support the spine.”

“This research confirms our opinion that scoliosis patients as well as those with milder forms of spine degeneration, of all ages, should be using these yoga muscle strengthening poses,” he said.

For information on scoliosis or other diseases and injuries of the spine, contact us.

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With the dawning of a new year, a large number of overweight and previously sedentary men and women decide it’s time to lose a few pounds. They attempt to accomplish this worthwhile goal by changing their diets and by committing to a more rigorous exercise regime.

Unfortunately, most of these exercise programs are undertaken without consulting a qualified physical trainer or other expert and inevitably, problems arise. As a result, the waiting rooms at Texas Back Institute start filling with people whose newly-found enthusiasm for physical fitness has led to injuries. While most of these injuries are muscle strains and other temporary conditions, a few are serious and require rehabilitation or more aggressive procedures.

Some of the trends in the types of exercise Americans are pursuing represent cautionary tales for those who are out of shape and are seeking a quick fix. Several spine specialists at Texas Back Institute were asked to comment on some recently published research on the types of exercise Americans are undertaking.

Warning: Some of these exercise trends are painful for physicians who treat back injuries to watch!  

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MyFitnessPal Users Weigh in With Their Favorite Exercises

If the recently completed Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is any indication, fitness, particularly wearable fitness gadgets and smartphone apps, is one of the hottest product categories in the world. One of the most successful fitness websites and smartphone app is MyFitnessPal. The company boasts more than 47 million U.S. users who use the service to track fitness activities, calories and food intake.

Recently, MyFitnessPal compiled the most popular fitness activities of their users and released a report of these exercise options.  Some of these “favorite” exercise options, such as walking and running, are understandable because they require little or no equipment or facilities. Some of these, such as ballet-style, barre classes and CrossFit, are relatively new and benefit from the novelty of the activities. And some, as the spine specialists at Texas Back Institute will caution, aredangerous when improperly supervised.

Walking and Running

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To the surprise of no one, walking and running are still the most popular exercise options for most Americans. When wearable technology is added to the mix, simplifying the tracking and compilation of these activities, almost anyone of any age or fitness level can participate.

“Regular walking is one of the most effective and safe exercises anyone can undertake,” noted Dr. Andrew Simpson, a spine specialist at Texas Back Institute. “It offers many physical, physiological and emotional benefits.”

“Walking activates the lumbar paraspinal muscles (multifidus and erector spinae) and changing the pace and incline of your walking activates different muscles throughout the mid and low back,” he said.

“Several studies have demonstrated that walking as part of a structured exercise regimen can effectively decrease low back pain in patients who suffer from chronic low back pain. Also, walking and other weight bearing exercises can increase bone mineral density of the spine and hips, which is important for preventing osteoporotic fractures.”

Biking

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Millions of men and women climb on either a stationary or traditional bike every day and receive the cardio benefits. This exercise is always one of the most popular among Americans, according to MyFitnesPal users. In 2014, a new biking activity entered the company’s radar. It’s called Soul Cycle and is one of the hottest, new venues for indoor, stationary cycling.

“Whether it’s done inside or outside, biking is an excellent and safe physical activity,” said Dr. Richard Guyer one of the back specialists at Texas Back Institute. “The only caution involves the proper setting of the seat. It should be high enough to allow for the knee to be slightly flexed but not fully extended but not so high where the back is strained over a long ride or workout,” he noted.

Zumba and Barre

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The popularity of the group dancing activity Zumba, while declining somewhat in 2014, is still among the top physicial acitivities of MyFitnesPal users. The latin-inspired, highly syncopated music and dance moves are challenging but the activity is so infectious, participants forget they are working out.

The Barre exercises are inspired by ballet. According an article in Fitness Magazine featuring Sadie Lincoln, the founder ofbarre3fitness, “”Most barre-based classes use a combination of postures inspired by ballet and other disciplines like yoga and Pilates. The barre is used as a prop to balance while doing exercises that focus on isometric strength training (holding your body still while you contract a specific set of muscles) combined with high reps of small range-of-motion movements.”

“While I have examined patients for injuries sustained from Zumba, both of these dance exercises are excellent ways to build core strength and cardio capacity,” said Dr. Jessica Shellock, “The only caution is to make sure there is proper stretching before the activity and trained supervison during the exercise.”

CrossFit and Tabata

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Two of the most popular exercises, especially among younger (20 – 30 year olds) participants are CrossFit training andTabata. These are also the most dangerous as far as back safety.

CrossFit combines high-intensity running, jumping and weight-lifting. According to the website CrossFitdefined, “The CrossFit Program was developed to enhance an individuals competency at all physical tasks. Our athletes are trained to perform successfully at multiple, diverse, and randomized physical challenges. This fitness is demanded of military and police personnel, firefighters, and many sports requiring total or complete physical prowess.

For exerciser who is in a hurry and doesn’t mind ultra-high intensity workouts, Tabata might be just the ticket. It is high-intensity interval training (H.I.I.T.) workout and it last for four minutes! According to Active.com, the Tabata training program, discovered by Japanese scientist Dr. Izumi Tabata, has this structure: (1) Work out hard for 20-seconds, (2) Rest for 10 seconds (3) Complete eight rounds!

“While CrossFit and Tabata are extremely popular among younger participants, there have been many accidents, including a spinal cord injury of a participant when a weight was inadvertently dropped on his back while he was involved in CrossFit training,” noted Dr. Michael Hisey.

“Of course, these risks are not unique to CrossFit or Tababta, high intensity workouts such as these, especially when they involve sudden jerking of weights or constant jumping, can wreak havoc on the spine. It is absolutely critical for a participant of these activities to get a professional physical evaluation before undertaking them. Proper supervision by a trained leader is also important,” he cautioned.

Before making good on that New Year’s resolution to get fit, you might want to check with the spine specialists at Texas Back Institute. Just CLICK HERE to arrange for an appointment.

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When Bruce Frantz and his wife Beverly retired in 2002, they were looking forward to spending time on their passion – hiking Yellowstone National Park. The natural majesty of this pristine environment has charmed people like the Frantz’s since humans first discovered it. Unfortunately, Bruce’s excruciating back pain kept him away from the park and everything else he enjoyed.

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As regular as Old Faithful, Bruce’s pain returned and made it impossible for him to enjoy life, including hiking in this beautiful wilderness. “I have had low back pain for 20 years or more, “Bruce noted in a recent interview. “I managed to tolerate it and stay mostly active with pain control such as NSAID’s and by stretching, exercise and physical therapy.”

As happens many times with chronic back pain, eventually the pain made it impossible for Bruce to do almost anything – from tying his shoes to sleeping.

“My back pain got progressively worse until it seemed our hiking ‘career’ would soon be over,”  he said. “I never knew when I would develop numbness in my legs and severe back pain, and how long it would last.”

At his wife Beverly’s insistence, Bruce decided he needed some medical help to climb out of this unrelenting inferno of pain. After consulting his family physician in Greenville, Texas, he was referred to Dr. Ted Belanger of Texas Back Institute. This would change everything.

Surgery Was the Only Option Left

“Bruce has a condition called stenosis, which is a narrowing of the spinal canal,” said Dr. Belanger. “Over time, the bone growth had put pressure on the spinal nerves and his condition was getting worse.”

Since surgery is always the last option, Dr. Belanger tried other medical remedies. New medications were tried along with two rounds of epidural steroidal injections. Nothing relieved the pain.

“Finally, we agreed that surgery was the only option,” noted Frantz. “Dr. Belanger’s calm, professional demeanor helped my confidence level throughout the process!”

In November 2013, Dr. Belanger performed a common surgical procedure known as a Laminectomy. Of course, as any surgical patient can attest, a “common” procedure is one which is performed on somebody else. For Bruce, this operation was extremely serious.

According to Dr. Belanger, a laminectomy is a surgical procedure which creates space in the spinal canal by removing the “lamina” — the back part of the vertebra that covers the spinal canal. “This is sometimes referred to as ‘decompression surgery,’” he notes. “The procedure the spinal canal to relieve pressure on the spinal nerves.”

The results of this procedure were life changing!

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“We Were Elated!”

“Beverly and I both agreed that this was miraculous,” said Bruce. “Dr. Belanger, in his understated manner, seemed pleased by the results, but we have been elated!”

“Immediately, I had almost no pain,” he said. “I had no numbness in either leg. I could stoop to tie my shoes, sleep,  get out of bed easily and walk without pain.”

“This past summer of 2014, we met a personal goal of hiking 1,500 miles over 11 years of hiking in Yellowstone National Park,” Bruce smiled. “At age 65, my wonderful wife Beverly and I hiked 116 miles last summer with confidence and less pain.”

“Who knows,” he said. “Maybe we can reach the 2,000 miles mark!”

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“We are so thankful to Texas Back Institute and Dr. Belanger for giving us back our hiking and quality of life,” Bruce said.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms Bruce Frantz once had, contact us and we will arrange an examination with one of the spine specialists at Texas Back Institute.

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The surgeons at Texas Back Institute are some of the most skilled specialists in the world. They employ cutting-edge procedures and medical devices to treat back problems caused by disease and injury. However, they also pursue non-invasive techniques and procedures which are intuitive, elegantly simple and don’t involve surgery.

“Stand up straight,” is an admonishment which youngsters of every generation have heard countless times from their mothers and fathers. As it turns out, mother was right. This gentle reminder for better posture can be powerful medicine for treating back pain and Dr. Michael Hisey was interested in learning how this “reminder” encouraging better posture might translate into less back pain and wear and tear on the spinal column.

The Test

Dr. Hisey’s experiment began with a brief article in the Wall Street Journal. The July 21, 2014, issue of this newspaper featured an article entitled: Can a Shirt Help Improve Your Posture?

The founder and president of AlignMed, a company which makes the leading posture shirt, Bill Schultz, was quoted in the WSJ article.

“Posture shirts use elastic bands to press gently on upper back and shoulder muscles, giving them a ‘mini-massage’ and helping to activate the muscles and prompt you to sit up straighter, says Bill Schultz, president and founder of AlignMed Inc., of Santa Ana, Calif. The shirts, including a lightweight model for $95 and a heavier one for $195, with adjustable straps that help pull the shoulders back firmly, also provide support for the core and upper back,” he adds.

When it was suggested to Dr. Hisey to put this posture shirt to the test, he immediately agreed to wear it for about a month, test its claims and report his unbiased results. He suggested enlisting another person who had complained of back pain to also test the effects of the AlignMed posture shirt.

Kevin Prejean, a partner and creative director at a Lafayette, Louisiana ad agency also agreed to try out the posture shirt for a month and see if it helped him alleviate his back pain. Kevin’s pain was likely caused by his constant hunching over his computer while designing ads and collateral for clients.

“Before experimenting with wearing the AlignMed posture shirt, I avoided all information about the product,” Dr. Hisey said recently. “I didn’t search their terms on Google and didn’t visit their website. I wanted to see if the product had merit without any preconceptions about its efficacy,” he noted.

The Results

Kevin Prejean and Dr. Hisey experienced similar results and these suggest benefits for back pain sufferers from wearing the posture shirt. Before sharing the results, it’s interesting to get more insights about the workings of the posture shirt from the CEO of AlignMed.

According to Bill Schultz, the posture shirt does three things. “First, the bands, which we call ‘neuro bands,’ will support your structure; your muscles and joints. Number two, they activate muscles. Muscles are filled with nerves which cause the muscles to contract. The posture shirt activates those nerves. Finally, it provides a bio-feedback. It makes you think about where your neck, shoulders, spine and hips are,” he said.

After wearing the posture shirt for about a month, Prejean said, “It made me more conscious of sitting up straighter while I was working at the computer. The tension from the bands was a constant reminder and I found myself having better posture while I was working. I was definitely more aware of my upper body and abs,” he said.

“The shirt reminded me of my military days,” he laughed. “While I was wearing the shirt, I was standing at attention.”

Did the posture shirt improve Prejean’s back pain?

“I didn’t notice dramatic changes,” he said. “However, I think I need to wear it longer to determine whether it works or not. I’ve had back pain for a long time and the periodic wearing of the shirt for one month is not enough time to determine its effect. I plan on continuing to wear the shirt.”

Dr. Hisey approached this experiment differently from Kevin. “I wanted to see if the shirt changed the way I worked out,” he said. “I do CrossFit in the morning and play soccer at night and in both cases wearing the shirt reminded me to maintain better posture. It did not limit my motion at all. It was like having a trainer watching your workout, reminding you to ‘keep upright’,” he said.

“I found the elastic bands, which are sewn into the shirt, worked well to encourage specific muscles to contract,” he said. “And I can see how, over time, these muscles would be strengthened resulting in support for better posture. For me, this posture shirt did exactly what I hoped it would do and I can see some patients benefiting from wearing it.”

One group of Texas Back Institute patients has discovered the posture shirt: professional athletes. These men and women whose livelihood depends on physical conditioning are using the shirt for training and on game day.

“We have more than 1,000 professional athletes, including more than 400 Major League Baseball players, more than 200 NFL athletes and star players in the NBA, who wear it,” Schultz said. “Some guys wear the shirt during the game and some wear for their practice work to work on their form.”

Whether one is an athlete, graphic artist or just someone with poor posture, correcting this situation can possibly help alleviate back pain. If you have back pain, it might be due  to poor posture or something more serious. To talk to a back specialist, just click here.

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The amazing popularity of Halloween suggests people of all ages love to be frightened. There are “haunted houses” in just about every city, ghoulish costumes worn by the very young children while trick or treating and the annual collection of horror films being released a couple of weeks before Halloween. This year’s crop of scary movies, including Annabelle, Dracula Untold and the very creepy Ouija, are guaranteed to make movie-goers squirm in their seats!

However, for all the popularity of scary activities during the Halloween season, nobody likes real-life horror stories. Patients who have experienced failed back surgery syndrome know what real pain and suffering are and they know this horror story is anything but fun.

Dr. Ralph Rashbaum, who in addition to being one of the three founders of Texas Back Institute, is an international expert on the subject of failed back surgery syndrome. Perhaps better than anyone in the world, he understands the horror stories of this condition and how one might avoid this scary situation.

What is Failed Back Surgery Syndrome?

In order to treat failed back syndrome, it is necessary to understand the clinical definition of this condition. A critical element lies in the immediacy of the problem.

“In order to be classified as failed back surgery syndrome, there has to be a correlation between the surgical event and the failure to improve as a direct result of the surgery,” Dr. Rashbaum noted in a recent interview. “This is an important distinction. Symptomatology that occurs months or years later, as a result of aging or factors unrelated to the surgery cannot be classified as failed back surgery syndrome.”

According to an interview published in the Spine Universe.com, Dr. Rashbaum said, “When patients don’t improve within the first 30 or 60 days following the surgery, that’s when you consider failed back surgery syndrome. I tend to consider failed back surgery syndrome only in cases where patients have surgery and, in the initial period following surgery, it is obvious that the intent of the surgery didn’t meet its goals,” he noted.

Factors Which Cause These Back Surgery Horror Stories

The psychological state of the patient can have an effect on the likelihood of failed back surgery syndrome. In some cases, a surgeon’s skill is not enough to overcome a patient’s psychosocial state.

“It becomes imperative to determine if we are treating the pain in their head,” notes Dr. Rashbaum, “or are we treating a structural component of their spine that’s causing them to perceive pain in their brain.”

Even the legal system can affect this condition. An on-the-job injury or one which is the basis for a worker’s compensation suit will often result in a failed back surgery syndrome condition, even in the presence of the appropriate diagnosis of the condition, and appropriate execution of the surgery.

“Anything that causes them (patient) to be litigious, seems to lead to a bad result,” he said.

The well-chronicled effect of obesity on back pain can also impact the likelihood of failed back surgery syndrome. Dr. Rashbaum notes that the clinical data does not suggest obese patients are more likely to have conditions such as herniated discs. However, overweight and obese patients are much more deconditioned than healthier patients and this negatively affects their rehabilitation and recovery, and a possible return to previous levels of employment or activity.

“When possible, surgeons need to encourage obese patients to diet,” he notes. “A surgeon may have done a masterful job of surgery for the condition of say leg pain, but inherent in this surgery is the potential for having back pain and failed back surgery syndrome once the motion segment has been operated upon, it is always at risk to future failure, especially in the obese population.”

Dr. Rashbaum insists on a holistic approach to back surgery. “There is no question in my mind that we are creating more failed back surgery syndromes when we fail to consider the other lifestyle factors in the patient which could be causing the pain in the first place,” he said. “My concern as a spine surgeon and pain specialist is that I’m seeing more and more unnecessary spine surgery and very little treatment for the lifestyle factors that, were they addressed, might negate the need for surgery.”

A Happy Ending

Getting a jolt of theatrical terror from a scary movie is fun. Failed back surgery syndrome is not. If one is living this horror story, what can be done? Dr. Rashbaum and the other specialists at Texas Back Institute treat failed back surgery syndrome on a regular basis. When assessing the situation, the primary goal is to determine where the pain is coming from. This is done with several advanced diagnostic tools and a “never-give-up” attitude.

“We do whatever we have to do to re-investigate the cause of the pain,” Dr. Rashbaum notes. “Because with failed back surgery syndrome, time is of the essence. Pain is a symptom and over time this can turn into a disease called chronic pain syndrome. The more a patient has to live with this chronic pain, the more they suffer psychosocial, financial and physical issues.”

If you are experiencing your own scary story of pain and you believe failed back surgery syndrome might be the cause, click here for appointment to see Dr. Rashbaum or other spine specialists at Texas Back Institute. We will do everything medically possible to re-write your horror story with a happy ending.

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sunrise dove hunt

Autumn is prime time for shooting sports and anyone who has spent a morning in a duck or deer blind has likely experienced some back aches and pain from handling a shotgun or rifle during a hunting trip. While this is expected for older men and women who only get out in the field a few times a year, this back pain resulting from shooting can affect younger shooters as well – even when they are Olympic champions.

The back specialists at Texas Back Institute treat many injuries caused by strains caused by shooting every year and Dr. Richard Guyer has some insights to help infrequent hunters avoid this back pain. Before you grab your gun and gear, you might want to give his advice a shot!

Back Injuries Threaten the Career of Olympian

According to the USA Shooting Team, Sarah Scherer, a 2012 Olympian was forced to withdraw from the 2014 World Shooting Championships in early September as the result of a back injury. This condition prevented her from training properly and would have kept her from traveling and competing without significant pain and limitation of her shooting.

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As with most athletes in this sport, Scherer has dealt with minor back pain throughout her career, but it worsened significantly in August 2014. According to news reports, pain from three herniated discs was so severe that she was sent home early and placed on an aggressive physical therapy program in hopes of getting her ready to compete.

All that effort proved insignificant in treating the pain and condition and thus Scherer, in consultation with the U.S. Olympic Committee medical team lead by USA Shooting sport physiotherapist Cathy Arnot and Dr. Bill Moreau, ultimately decided the best path was to not compete and aggressively treat her symptoms with surgery likely in the near future.

Scherer was a two-time NCAA National Champion in smallbore (.22 caliber) rifle at Texas Christian University while also leading the Horned Frogs to two national team titles. At the 2010 World Championships, she was a junior silver medalist in three-position rifle while teaming with Amanda Furrer and Sarah Beard for a team title. She earned a bronze medal in three-position at the USA World Cup earlier this season in Ft. Benning, Georgia.

According to the USOC medical team, Scherer has two disc extrusions- one at L3-4 and one at L4-5 and a disc protrusion at L5-S1. The end result is pain, loss of muscle function and sensation in her legs and an inability to get into shooting position without creating more pressure on the spinal nerves. Her symptoms have not responded to high dose steroids or physical therapy. The likely next steps for Scherer will include spinal injection, and a probable spinal decompression at the affected levels.

Prognosis for the Olympic Shooter

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For a young woman, who has world-class conditioning and impeccable shooting form to be sidelined by these types of back injuries suggests a high degree of risk of back pain for those shooters who are older, perhaps out of shape and likely have less-than-world-class form.

“Sarah’s situation was likely caused by genetic pre-disposition in combination with the extreme wear and tear of constant training and competing,” Dr. Guyer noted. “Most weekend hunters don’t have her form and stamina, but they also don’t shoot nearly as much as she does.”

Could this type of injury be career-ending for the young shooter?

“Having not seen the x-rays, it’s impossible for me to say,” said Dr. Guyer. “However, if there is leg pain associated with this condition it is more serious. If so, a microdiscectomy, where a small portion of the bone over the nerve root and/or disc material from under the nerve root is removed to relieve neural impingement to allow the nerve to heal,  would possibly be in order. If her pain is centered only in her lower back, she might be a candidate for disc replacement because of her age and activity level. Fusion would be a secondary choice,” he noted.

How Hunters Can Avoid Back Pain and Injuries

This is the time of year when shotgunners are trying to bring back dove, quail and ducks and deer hunters are trying to fill the freezer with venison. Do you have any advice to help them avoid injuries or back pain that might ruin a hunting trip?

“Good posture is the key element of avoiding back pain when shouldering a shotgun or rifle,” he said. “If the hunter is sitting in a duck or deer blind, he or she needs lumbar support. It’s important to stand up and stretch from time to time, even if one is concerned that the game might notice the movement.”

“As always, the best cure for back pain from hunting is prevention,” Dr. Guyer said. “Before getting out in the field and handling a shotgun, it’s important to build strength in core muscles.”

“I also recommend getting some professional advice about proper shooting form. Before going on that hunting trip, go to the shooting range and ask someone who knows proper form to watch you swing and shoulder the shotgun or rifle and tell you if you’re doing it correctly. Then practice that form in the mirror until the gun is placed correctly on the shoulder every time a shot is taken,” Dr. Guyer said.

With more and more women taking up hunting and competitive shooting, are there gender-specific techniques or injuries females should be aware of?

“Unfortunately, back pain is ‘equal opportunity,’” he laughed. “It is gender neutral!”

If you have questions on how to avoid back injuries when hunting or target shooting, click here to speak with a Texas Back Institute specialist.

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sunrise dove hunt

Autumn is prime time for shooting sports and anyone who has spent a morning in a duck or deer blind has likely experienced some back aches and pain from handling a shotgun or rifle during a hunting trip. While this is expected for older men and women who only get out in the field a few times a year, this back pain resulting from shooting can affect younger shooters as well – even when they are Olympic champions.

The back specialists at Texas Back Institute treat many injuries caused by strains caused by shooting every year and Dr. Richard Guyer has some insights to help infrequent hunters avoid this back pain. Before you grab your gun and gear, you might want to give his advice a shot!

Back Injuries Threaten the Career of Olympian

According to the USA Shooting Team, Sarah Scherer, a 2012 Olympian was forced to withdraw from the 2014 World Shooting Championships in early September as the result of a back injury. This condition prevented her from training properly and would have kept her from traveling and competing without significant pain and limitation of her shooting.

DSC_1889-Edit-2

As with most athletes in this sport, Scherer has dealt with minor back pain throughout her career, but it worsened significantly in August 2014. According to news reports, pain from three herniated discs was so severe that she was sent home early and placed on an aggressive physical therapy program in hopes of getting her ready to compete.

All that effort proved insignificant in treating the pain and condition and thus Scherer, in consultation with the U.S. Olympic Committee medical team lead by USA Shooting sport physiotherapist Cathy Arnot and Dr. Bill Moreau, ultimately decided the best path was to not compete and aggressively treat her symptoms with surgery likely in the near future.

Scherer was a two-time NCAA National Champion in smallbore (.22 caliber) rifle at Texas Christian University while also leading the Horned Frogs to two national team titles. At the 2010 World Championships, she was a junior silver medalist in three-position rifle while teaming with Amanda Furrer and Sarah Beard for a team title. She earned a bronze medal in three-position at the USA World Cup earlier this season in Ft. Benning, Georgia.

According to the USOC medical team, Scherer has two disc extrusions- one at L3-4 and one at L4-5 and a disc protrusion at L5-S1. The end result is pain, loss of muscle function and sensation in her legs and an inability to get into shooting position without creating more pressure on the spinal nerves. Her symptoms have not responded to high dose steroids or physical therapy. The likely next steps for Scherer will include spinal injection, and a probable spinal decompression at the affected levels.

Prognosis for the Olympic Shooter

DSCN3276

For a young woman, who has world-class conditioning and impeccable shooting form to be sidelined by these types of back injuries suggests a high degree of risk of back pain for those shooters who are older, perhaps out of shape and likely have less-than-world-class form.

“Sarah’s situation was likely caused by genetic pre-disposition in combination with the extreme wear and tear of constant training and competing,” Dr. Guyer noted. “Most weekend hunters don’t have her form and stamina, but they also don’t shoot nearly as much as she does.”

Could this type of injury be career-ending for the young shooter?

“Having not seen the x-rays, it’s impossible for me to say,” said Dr. Guyer. “However, if there is leg pain associated with this condition it is more serious. If so, a microdiscectomy, where a small portion of the bone over the nerve root and/or disc material from under the nerve root is removed to relieve neural impingement to allow the nerve to heal,  would possibly be in order. If her pain is centered only in her lower back, she might be a candidate for disc replacement because of her age and activity level. Fusion would be a secondary choice,” he noted.

How Hunters Can Avoid Back Pain and Injuries

This is the time of year when shotgunners are trying to bring back dove, quail and ducks and deer hunters are trying to fill the freezer with venison. Do you have any advice to help them avoid injuries or back pain that might ruin a hunting trip?

“Good posture is the key element of avoiding back pain when shouldering a shotgun or rifle,” he said. “If the hunter is sitting in a duck or deer blind, he or she needs lumbar support. It’s important to stand up and stretch from time to time, even if one is concerned that the game might notice the movement.”

“As always, the best cure for back pain from hunting is prevention,” Dr. Guyer said. “Before getting out in the field and handling a shotgun, it’s important to build strength in core muscles.”

“I also recommend getting some professional advice about proper shooting form. Before going on that hunting trip, go to the shooting range and ask someone who knows proper form to watch you swing and shoulder the shotgun or rifle and tell you if you’re doing it correctly. Then practice that form in the mirror until the gun is placed correctly on the shoulder every time a shot is taken,” Dr. Guyer said.

With more and more women taking up hunting and competitive shooting, are there gender-specific techniques or injuries females should be aware of?

“Unfortunately, back pain is ‘equal opportunity,’” he laughed. “It is gender neutral!”

If you have questions on how to avoid back injuries when hunting or target shooting, click here to speak with a Texas Back Institute specialist.