A Hockey Player with Persistent Low Back Pain and Hamstring Inflexibility: Enthesitis-Related JIA

This case of a hockey player with a back injury that is not improving illustrates the need to consider medical causes of musculoskeletal pain in athletes. The young athlete in this case presents for evaluation of low back pain 4 months after a fall in hockey; he is not improving in physical therapy as expected. In addition, he is complaining of symptoms such as morning stiffness, widening area of pain, and weight loss that are inconsistent with a lingering musculoskeletal injury.