Primary Care Lunch and Learn: Physical Therapy: Back Pain in Adolescent Athletes

Objectives (Educational Content) :

1. To guide in distinguishing between different diagnoses related to low back pain in adolescent athletes. 

2. To help physicians identify and evaluate when appropriate to refer patients to physical therapy vs. orthopedics/etc.

3. To summarize the latest research surrounding adolescent low back pain.

Target Audience:

General pediatricians, family physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, social workers, psychologists, and nurses.

Identified Gap:

Despite the high prevalence of low back pain in adolescent athletes, many clinicians lack consistent application of age- and sport-specific diagnostic frameworks, resulting in variability in diagnosis, referral patterns, and management. There is a gap between current practice and best practice in differentiating common causes of adolescent low back pain, determining when referral to physical therapy versus orthopedic or other specialty care is appropriate, and applying emerging evidence to guide treatment decisions. This gap may lead to delayed recovery, unnecessary imaging or specialist referral, and suboptimal return-to-sport outcomes for adolescent athletes.

Estimated Time to Complete the Educational Activity:

1 hour(s)

Expiration Date for CE/CME Credit:

02-11-2027

Method of Participation in the Learning Process:

The learner will view the presentation, successfully complete a post-test and complete an activity evaluation.

Evaluation Methods:

All learners must successfully complete a post-test, as well as an activity evaluation, to claim CE/CME credit.

Disclosure:

The following presenter has indicated that no financial relationship with an ineligible company: Jessica Ciborek, PT, DPT, CIDN The following planning committee member has indicated that a financial relationship with an ineligible company: All relationships have been mitigated. The remaining planning committee/CME committee members have indicated that they have no financial relationships with any ineligible companies.

Accreditation Statement:

Children’s Hospital Medical Center of Akron is accredited by the Ohio State Medical Association to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

CHMCA designates this enduring material activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit TM.  Physicians should only claim the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Bibliography:

1. Selhorst M, Sweeney E, Martin LC, et al. Immediate Physical Therapy is Beneficial for Adolescent Athletes with Active Lumbar Spondylolysis: A Multicentre Randomised Trial. Br J Sports Med Epub ahead of print: 20 November 2025. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2025-110606.

2. Rhoden I, Simon J, et al. Causes of Adolescent Low Back Pain: A Retrospective Study. Arch Rehabil Res Clin Transl. 2025;7:100433.

3. Winslow, John, Jackson, Mark, et al. Rehabiliation of a Young Athlete With Extension-Based Low Back Pain Addressing Motor-Control Impairments and Central Sensitization. Journal of Athletic Training: February 2018. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-238-16.