title: Spondylolysis: returning the athlete to sports participation with brace treatment.
abstract: Between 1988 and 1995, 73 adolescent athletes treated with the Boston Overlap Brace for spondylolysis were reviewed to evaluate improvement in pain score and activity level. A favorable clinical outcome was achieved in 80%. Girls and boys who participated in high-risk sports were five times more likely to have an unfavorable clinical outcome than those who participated in low-risk sports (odds ratio = 5, 95% confidence interval = 2.4-7.5, P = .003). In addition, acute onset of pain and hamstring tightness were associated with a worse outcome. Athletes with symptomatic spondylolysis treated with an antilordotic brace can expect improvement in their clinical course and return to sports participation in 4-6 weeks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Pierre A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: d'Hemecourt
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zurakowski
authors.forename: Susi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kriemler
authors.forename: Lyle J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Micheli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D001915:Braces; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008161:Lumbosacral Region / Q000293:injuries* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010147:Pain Measurement; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D013168:Spondylolisthesis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013169:Spondylolysis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices