What Is a Pars Stress Fracture? (And Why We See Them So Often in Young Athletes)
A pars stress fracture is a small, load-related crack in part of the spine — and it's one of the most common causes of lower back pain we see in young athletes, especially in high-load sports like cricket bowling, gymnastics, football, and swimming.
I've unfortunately had to have this conversation with a few patients and their families recently. In the space of a couple of weeks, we saw 6+ cases of the same thing.
And most people had never even heard of it.
So let's break it down.
What Is a Pars Stress Fracture?
A pars stress fracture is a small crack in part of the spine.
Specifically, it affects a section of bone that connects the front and back of each vertebra.
But what really matters is this: it’s a load-related injury in the lower back.
And it’s very common in younger athletes — with the rate dropping significantly after around age 23.
Who Gets Them?
This is a big one.
Pars stress fractures are most common in:
• Ages 13–18
• Athletes in high-load sports
• Sports involving repetitive extension and rotation
Why? Because the spine isn’t fully developed until around 23–24 years old.
What Does It Feel Like?
This is where it can be tricky.
Sometimes it’s obvious. Sometimes it’s not.
Common signs:
• Localised low back pain
• Pain with extension (leaning backwards)
• Pain during sport
• Pain that builds over time (not one single incident)
But we also see athletes with minimal symptoms early on. Which is why they can get missed.
How Do They Happen?
This isn’t usually one big injury. It’s a build-up over time.
Repeated stress on the lower back without enough recovery.
Contributing factors:
• Sudden increase in training load
• High training frequency
• Poor recovery
• Technique issues (especially in bowling or jumping sports)
Over time, the bone can’t keep up → it fatigues → then a stress fracture develops.
Why Early Diagnosis Matters
This is the difference-maker.
Can You Still Train?
Short answer: no — at least not initially.
That means temporarily removing the load that caused the issue.
Then, once symptoms settle, we guide you through a structured program to:
• Restore what you’ve lost
• Improve movement mechanics
• Build stronger bone and tissue
• Reduce the risk of re-injury
The Bottom Line
• Pars stress fractures are common in young athletes
• They’re caused by repetitive load, not one big injury
• Early diagnosis makes a huge difference
• Most can be managed well with the right plan
And the biggest mistake? Trying to push through it.
Need Help With Ongoing Back Pain?
If you’ve got ongoing lower back pain — especially in sport — it’s worth getting it checked properly.
We work with athletes from Thornton, Maitland, Chisholm, Cessnock, Kurri, Cameron Park, Greta, Branxton and across the Hunter Valley.
Book in with our team at Valley Physio and we’ll help you get a clear plan.
🎥 Didn’t catch the video earlier? Watch the video here.
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