Despite being a low-impact sport, golf places intense, repetitive stress on the lower back. From the torque of the swing to walking uneven terrain for hours, golfers often deal with stiffness, soreness, or chronic pain that can affect both performance and long-term health.
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The golf swing involves powerful rotation, extension, and side bending — movements that, when repeated without proper mobility or control, can overload the lumbar spine. Add in limited warm-ups, poor swing mechanics, or muscular imbalances, and it's easy to see why back pain is one of the most common complaints among golfers.
Even recreational players who golf once or twice a week can experience discomfort if their bodies aren’t moving efficiently. Unfortunately, most golfers treat back pain reactively with ice, rest, or over-the-counter remedies ,rather than addressing the root cause.
Sports physical therapy goes beyond injury recovery: It’s about optimizing how the body moves to reduce strain, improve control, and support longevity in your sport. For golfers, that means protecting the spine while enhancing swing efficiency.
At 865 PT, sports rehabilitation for golfers starts with a detailed assessment. We look at how your hips, thoracic spine, and core are functioning. The key areas that should generate and control rotation during the golf swing. When these regions are stiff or weak, the lower back often compensates, taking on more load than it’s designed to handle.
Through targeted mobility work, core stability training, and movement correction, PT helps redistribute that stress across the whole body,taking pressure off the lumbar spine. This isn’t just about pain relief; it’s about training smarter movement patterns that hold up under repeated swings.
For golfers dealing with existing back pain, therapy also includes manual techniques to reduce tension and improve alignment, along with exercises that reinforce better postural habits and protect spinal joints during play.
Preventing low back pain in golf starts with training the right movements, not just doing general exercises. A strong swing comes from controlled rotation, proper sequencing, and a stable base, all of which require specific physical skills.
Here are the movement patterns every golfer should prioritize:
READ: The Best Exercises for Rotational Power (Backed by a TPI Specialist)
At 865 PT, we incorporate these patterns into individualized programs that match a golfer’s current ability and swing style. Whether you’re working through an injury or aiming to optimize your game, focusing on these foundations can protect your back and improve your performance.
At 865 PT, we specialize in helping golfers stay active, pain-free, and competitive. Whether you're recovering from an injury or aiming to improve your swing mechanics. Our approach combines rehab and performance in one seamless, personalized plan.
Every golfer begins with a movement and swing assessment that evaluates how your body contributes to, or limits your game. From there, we design a program that targets your specific needs, whether it’s reducing low back pain, improving rotation, or building endurance for full rounds.
What sets us apart is our focus on sport-specific rehab. You won’t find generic stretches and exercises here. Instead, you'll get hands-on care, movement retraining, and golf-specific strength work designed to improve both health and performance.
We also utilize tools like our in-house golf stimulator to assess movement in real time and provide immediate feedback. This allows us to integrate rehab and swing mechanics directly so every session supports how you feel and how you play.
While physical therapy lays the foundation for better movement, what you do between rounds also matters. A few simple habits can go a long way in protecting your back and keeping you on the course.
Consistency is key, and with support from the team at 865 PT,you can make back pain a thing of the past and enjoy more time on the green, pain-free.