How I Treat Golfers with Low Back Pain
From the lens of TPI at Apex Performance Institute
Low back pain is the number one injury in amateur golfers—and it’s one of the most frustrating, because it doesn’t just hurt your game—it makes life more uncomfortable.
At Apex Performance Institute, I take a different approach. Instead of just chasing symptoms, I focus on fixing the why. As a TPI-certified golf performance chiropractor, my goal is to get you back to playing the game you love—without flinching after every swing.
Here’s what that process looks like:
🔍 Step 1: Find the Root Cause
Your low back might be where you feel the pain, but that’s rarely where the problem starts.
In the TPI world, we talk about the Kinetic Chain—how every segment of the body affects the ones above and below it. The lumbar spine is meant to be stable, not the prime mover in your golf swing. If your hips are stiff, your thoracic spine doesn’t rotate, or your core isn’t engaging, your lower back picks up the slack—and eventually, it breaks down.
So, the first thing I do is assess:
• Hip rotation and mobility (especially lead side)
• T-spine rotation
• Core and glute activation
• Swing mechanics (often in collaboration with your coach)
🛠️ Step 2: Remove the Roadblocks
Once we identify the dysfunction, we start addressing the mobility and stability gaps.
Common patterns I see:
• Golfers who can’t rotate through their mid-back
• Hips that are too tight to allow good separation
• Weak deep core muscles that don’t stabilize well under load
Treatment might include:
• Manual therapy: ART, cupping, myofascial release
• Joint mobility drills: 90/90 hip work, T-spine openers
• Corrective exercise: Breathing drills, bird dogs, banded rotations
• Neuromuscular re-education: Rebuilding the brain-body connection so movement becomes automatic again
🏌️ Step 3: Build a Swing-Ready Body
Pain-free isn’t the end goal—performance is.
We integrate your rehab with golf-specific movement: rotational strength, power development, speed control, and endurance. The key is loading you progressively in ways that mimic your swing demands, so you’re stronger on the course, not just in the clinic.
I also stay in communication with your swing coach (if you have one), so your physical and technical training are aligned. That collaboration is where the real magic happens.
✅ The Goal: Lower Scores, Not Just Less Pain
Pain relief is just the beginning. Most golfers I work with don’t just get out of pain—they swing faster, more consistently, and with more confidence.
That’s because the same qualities that keep you healthy—mobility, stability, strength, and sequencing—are the same ones that make you a better golfer.
Ready to Feel and Play Better?
If you’re dealing with low back pain and you’re tired of “just resting it,” let’s change the approach. At Apex Performance Institute, you’ll get:
• A movement-first, golf-specific evaluation
• A customized rehab + performance plan
• Clear goals tied to your swing and lifestyle
Let’s get you back on the course—and playing your best.
👉 Book a Discovery Visit today to get started.
