Golf Injury Treatment - Spokane, WA
Reviewed By: Stephen Byers, DC CSCS
LOW BACK PAIN FROM GOLF--AND WHAT ACTUALLY FIXES IT
Low back pain is the most common golf injury we treat at the Movement Clinic. Most of the time it's not random--and it doesn't have to keep coming back
Does This Sound Familiar?
Pain that follows you on and off the course
"My pain is always worse on the back 9 holes."
"The pain is always on the right-side of my back."
"I'm just getting tighter and tighter and now I'm losing all my power."
"I feel stiff bending down for my ball, or getting in and out of the cart."
"I'll play 1 round and then my back hurts for days."
"I've tried resting, stretching, and so many treatments, nothing works."
Why It Happens
Two swing patterns we see in almost every golfer with back pain
REVERSE SPINE ANGLE
This happens during the backswing. Instead of the spine tilting slightly away from the target, it tilts towards it. On the downswing, the body has to rapidly reverse that lean--creating significant compressive and shear forces on one side of the back. For right-handed golfers, this often causes right-sided pain. For lefties, it affects the left side.
EARLY EXTENSION
This happens during the downswing. The pelvis thrusts toward the ball and the back absorbs forces that should be moving through the hips and legs. The low back ends up acting as a force generator that it wasn't designed to be--and over time it breaks down. This pattern is also a common driver of inconsistent shots and overall loss of power.
What's Driving It
The physical reasons these patterns develop
Swing faults don't happen in isolation. They're usually the body's way of working around a physical limitation. When we evaluate golfers with low back pain, we commonly find one or more of these:
LIMITED HIP MOBILITY
The hips are designed to rotate. When they can't the lumbar spine compensates--rotating and extending more than it should. This is the single most common contributor to low back pain.
LIMITED TRUNK MOBILITY
When the thoracic spine doesn't rotate well, golfers lose posture on the backswing and compensate with lumbar motion--setting up the reverse spine angle pattern every swing
INADEQUATE WARM-UP
Most golfers go from a desk or a car seat directly to the first tee. Cold, stiff tissue limits mobility and magnifies swing faults. A 5-10 minute targeted warm-up makes a measurable difference.
POOR CORE CONTROL
This isn't about having a strong core in the gym-- it's about controlling movement while generating and transferring rotation force. When it's lacking the back absorbs excess stress and pain often worsens each hole.
LACK OF POWER FROM THE GROUND
When the legs aren't producing force efficiently golfers jump forward into their swing--pulling the pelvis toward the ball and triggering early extension. Fixing this is often as important as mobility work.
POOR RECOVERY BETWEEN ROUNDS
Small irritations accumulate. Without consistent recovery work between rounds, stiff joints and tight muscles compound--turning a minor issue into persistent pain that follows you all season.
Our Approach
We use our Going Beyond Par Recovery Program to evaluate golf-related back pain at the Movement Clinic
Most back pain treatment starts with the symptom. We start with the movement--because that's where the answer usually is.
01
FULL MOVEMENT ASSESSMENT
We assess basic mobility, stability, and movement patterns across your whole body--not just your back. This reveals any physical limitations which may be contributing to the problem, not just where it hurts.
02
GOLF-SPECIFIC BIOMECHANICAL TESTING
We assess your strength, power and swing mechanics to see how your physical limitations connect to your swing pattern. Understanding whether pain is coming from physical restrictions, swing mechanics, or both shapes everything that comes next.
03
SPORTS CHIROPRACTIC CARE
Targeted adjustments restore motion to stiff joints and reduce irritation to the affected areas of the body. Soft-tissue treatments help loosen muscles and reduce pain.
04
GOLF-SPECIFIC REHABILITATION
We use exercises to help you learn how to use the areas of your body that have been too locked up to work properly. We work to strengthen those muscles so you don't end up back where you started again.
05
RETURN TO PLAY PLANNING
We use our Going Beyond Par training guide to help you understand how to warm-up train between rounds, and manage load so you can stay in the game--not just recover from it.
Learn more about our Going Beyond Par Recovery Care Program
Common Question
Should you stop playing golf if your back hurts?
In most cases, no--and that's not usually what we recommend. Pain is a signal that something needs to change, not necessarily that golf needs to stop. With the right plan, most golfers are able to continue playing while they recover.
What we want to understand is why it's happening. Once that's clear, we can often modify how you're warming up, how you're managing load during a round, and what you're doing between rounds--and the pain starts to improve without giving up the game.
Pain lasting more than 1-2 weeks, recurring flare-ups, or back pain that's affecting your distance or consistency are all signs that it's worth getting assessed sooner rather than later.
What to Expect
Realistic recovery timelines
Every golfer is different, but here's what we typically see based on the nature of the issue.
6-8 VISITS
Acute Flare-up
Recent onset, first-time issue. Fast response with the right treatment and activity modification
4-8 WEEKS
Persistent or Recurring Pain
Pain that has been present for weeks or months, or keeps coming back. Requires addressing the underlying movement dysfunctions.
8-16 WEEKS
Performance Rebuild
Full recovery requires building the necessary mobility, strength and swing mechanics needed to stay pain-free for the long term.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions golfers ask us about back pain
Q: Can a chiropractor actually help with golf back pain?
A: Yes--particularly when the care is movement-based rather than just adjustment-focused. Chiropractic care that combines adjustments with targeted mobility and strength work addresses both the pain and the underlying pattern driving it. Most golfers see meaningful improvement within a few weeks.
Q: Do I need imaging before coming in?
A: No. In most cases of golf-related low back pain, imaging isn't the first step. Our movement assessment gives us the information we need to get started. If imaging becomes relevant, we'll let you know and we can help refer you for imaging.
Q: Is this just age--should I expect back pain as a golfer?
A: This is one of the most common things we hear--and it's rarely true. Golf-related low back pain is almost always the result of a movement pattern, not age. We regularly work with golfers in their 50s, 60s, and 70s who resolve persistent back pain once the underlying cause is identified.
Q: Should I rest completely, or can I keep playing?
A: Most of the time, complete rest isn't necessary. We'll assess your situation and give you specific guidance on what to modify during your recovery. Many golfers are able to continue playing with some adjustments to volume, warm-up and cool-down routine.
Q: How is this different from seeing a regular chiropractor or physical therapist?
A: Our team specializes in working with golfers and active adults. We assess movement patterns, understand swing mechanics, and build treatment plans that include targeted exercise and adjustments. We're focused on solving the problem and getting you back on the course.
Ready to stop guessing and find the actual cause?
If low back pain is affecting your game, schedule a movement assessment as part of our Going Beyond Par Recovery program. We'll identify what the problem is and what to do about it!