By: Hope Whitman, PT, DPT, OCS
Low back pain is surprisingly common in teen gymnasts. A recent study looked at what’s happening in their core muscles—and the results point to a few clear patterns. (Deodato et al., 2024).
Young gymnasts with ongoing low back pain tended to have:
- ● Core muscle imbalance — Their abdominals could outlast their back muscles, creating a strength-endurance mismatch.
- ● Smaller back stabilizer muscles — The lumbar multifidus, a key spine-supporting muscle, was thinner in gymnasts with pain.
- ● Weaker muscle response — The erector spinae, another important back muscle group, didn’t contract as effectively or efficiently.
The Good News
Gymnasts who completed eight sessions of physical therapy with postural reeducation had:
- ● Less back pain
- ● A healthier balance between abdominal and back muscle endurance
What This Means for Gymnasts & Parents
A strong “core” isn’t just about abs—it’s about balance. Gymnasts need back extensor endurance and deep stabilizer strength just as much as abdominal conditioning. Early physical therapy can help restore that balance and ease pain before it becomes a long-term issue.
Follow the video link for my top 3 favorite low back strengthening exercises to start with!
Click Here to schedule your next appointment with the experts at MEND
- Reference:
Deodato, M., Saponaro, S., Šimunič, B., Martini, M., Murena, L., & Buoite Stella, A. (2024). Trunk muscles’ characteristics in adolescent gymnasts with low back pain: A pilot study on the effects of a physiotherapy intervention including a postural reeducation program. Yugoslav Journal of Sports Medicine, 32, 225–2202. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11216269/