Immediate physical therapy is beneficial for adolescent athletes with active lumbar spondylolysis: a multicentre randomised trial.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To compare the effects of initiating physical therapy (PT) immediately versus resting before starting PT on pain and dysfunction over 12 months in adolescent athletes (10-19 years) with active lumbar spondylolysis.

Methods

This prospective multicentre trial randomised participants to immediate PT or rest before PT. The immediate PT group began PT within 7 days and progressed based on pain and function. The rest before PT group started PT once symptoms resolved and progressed based on time. The primary outcome was pain and disability (Micheli Functional Scale) between groups over time, measured at baseline, 1 (primary end point), 3 and 12 months. Time to return to sport and the recurrence rate of low back pain (LBP) were also assessed. Outcomes were analysed using

SUBMITTER: Selhorst M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12911598 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature