Persistent Low Back Pain in a 12-Year-Old Gymnast Treated With Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment

A 12-year-old female gymnast presented with eight months of persistent bilateral low back pain without an inciting traumatic event. Extensive diagnostic evaluation and therapeutic interventions, including radiography, MRI, ultrasound, multiple rounds of physical therapy, shockwave therapy, and prolotherapy, failed to improve symptoms. She then consulted with an osteopathic physician specializing in pediatrics and osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT). Examination revealed significant somatic dysfunction of the lumbar region, pelvic region, sacroiliac joints, and lower extremities. OMT was administered over four visits over 10-weeks. By the last visit, the patient demonstrated improvement in pain, functionality, quality of life, and somatic dysfunction findings, ultimately allowing her to return to gymnastics. This case highlights the importance of considering OMT as an early intervention in managing low back pain in adolescent athletes, particularly when other conventional therapies may not have had therapeutic benefit.