Do Lower Extremity Injuries Increase Low Back Pain Risk?

Each year, about one in twelve soldiers will experience an episode of acute lower back pain (LBP). A recent study found that a previous injury to the lower extremities increases a soldier’s risk for developing LBP by about 70%. The authors of the study conclude, “These findings suggest that a potential second-order effect of [lower extremity injury] is an increased short-term risk for developing LBP, which should be considered during rehabilitation planning.” Medicine and Science in Sports Exercise, December 2017