New research led by Sport and Exercise Medicine Physician and PhD candidate, Dr Larissa Trease, is reshaping how we understand recovery from lower back pain in elite sport.
“Lower back pain is highly prevalent in elite sport, affecting up to 90 per cent of Olympic athletes during their careers,” she says.
While pain is often treated as a purely physical issue, Larissa’s study found that recovery is also strongly influenced by psychological and social factors.
“Many athletes said that pain itself wasn’t the hardest challenge,” she explains. “Lower back pain disrupted their identity, self-confidence, sense of inclusion and perceived self-worth.”
According to Dr Trease, maintaining a sense of agency plays a crucial role in many athletes’ recovery.
“When athletes felt validated, informed and involved in decision-making, they were better able to compartmentalise symptoms and remain engaged in rehabilitation and competition. Conversely, dismissal or poor explanation of pain undermined their agency and recovery.”
She says the findings highlight the necessity of integrating psychological and social considerations into clinical assessment, therapeutic communication and recovery planning for elite athletes.
