@4arms posted:I recently posted about this subject under Pars Fracture and received a couple helpful replies (Thank you). I know this condition is referred to by a few different terms and was wondering if there are anymore experiences with Spondylolysis? My son was recently diagnosed with a CT scan and he's been told most cases are managed with bracing and therapy before return to sport. My concern after researching this condition is that there are a lot of documented cases where the injury or related complications come back. I read about this topic from a 2013 thread so I guess I'm looking for some more "recent" experiences people can share about how their players fared after having this condition and then dealing with the rigors of college/pro ball. I appreciate any feedback.
As always with posts like this don't take this as medical advice.
1) There's a few different kinds of spondylolysis, but 2nd most common would be isthmic, usually from heavy loaded extension. Think pitching and hitting, two movements that can be done repetitively at a high intensity.
2) It doesn't tend to get worse with age, and its progression is not associated with LBP (meaning you're not doomed with LBP moreso compared to someone who doesn't have this as you age): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12768144/ and to add on to that, there's no association between those get back pain more frequently and those who don't get it as frequently with regards to spondylolysis https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/p.../pdf/nihms506376.pdf
3) It seems the mean return to sport is ~5.5 months in elite adolescent athletes: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/p...2001_Article_326.pdf and whether or not it heals has no impact on return to sport. This would lend credence to "Hey, if this hurts, especially in extension during hitting and/or throwing and other activities, perhaps we back off those activities for awhile, then gradually reintroduce them later down the line."