The Ultimate Guide to Alleviating Low Back Pain: Top 3 Proven Treatments for Golfers

Are you a passionate golfer who struggles with nagging low back pain that hinders your performance on the golf course? You're not alone. Many golfers experience discomfort in their lower back due to the repetitive nature of the sport. However, fear not! In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the top three proven treatments to help alleviate low back pain so you can focus on perfecting your swing and enjoying the game you love.

Treatment 1: Manual Therapy

Manual therapy is a cornerstone treatment for low back pain in golfers. Most golfers will present with stiffness in their thoracic spine and in the rotational mobility of the hips that may not be able to be fully resolved with exercise alone. By addressing stiffness in the spine and hips with a variety of manual techniques, one will typically have reduced pain, improved range of motion, and enhanced golfing performance. At Back9PT & Performance, manual therapy is a key element in our treatments.

Treatment 2: Trigger Point Dry Needling

Trigger point dry needling can be a great adjunct to our treatments for decreasing pain and improving blood flow to a stiff and painful region. In the lower back dry needling is generally applied to the lumbar paraspinals and the upper glutes to help with the pain. We utilize e-stim with our dry needling to get the most beneficial effects. It can provide immediate relief at times and ahs been a game-changer in our treatments.

Treatment 3: Mobility and Core Stability Exercises

The golf swing is a movement that requires mobility throughout the hips and spine as well as stability throughout the core. Through targeted exercises and stretches, physical therapy can help reduce pain, enhance flexibility, and boost your overall performance on the golf course. Our focus is generally on mobility first with manual therapy and then followed with specific exercises to help improve carry-over between sessions. Exercises will then move on to focus on anti-movements at the beginning and then add in further rotational and chop/lift strength and power to build up resiliency.