Your Golf Pro Can Fix Your Swing. But What If the Problem Is Your Body?
You’ve taken lessons. Watched videos. Maybe even done some stretching. But the low back pain after 18 holes keeps coming back. The elbow flares up. Your shoulder catches at the top of your backswing.
Here’s what most golfers miss: the site of your pain is rarely the source of your problem. A golfer with elbow pain frequently has a thoracic rotation deficit. A golfer with low back pain almost always has a hip mobility restriction. A golfer with shoulder impingement often has scapular instability.
What Is Functional Movement Analysis?
A standard PT evaluation looks at the area that hurts. Functional movement analysis examines the entire kinetic chain — ankles, hips, thoracic spine, shoulders, and wrists — to identify where mobility or stability deficits are forcing other areas to compensate. The FAFS approach uses 3D movement assessment: we evaluate how your body moves in the positions and patterns that replicate the demands of your sport.
Common Golf Injuries and Their Hidden Causes
Low Back Pain ← Hip Rotation Deficit
The golf swing requires approximately 45-60 degrees of hip internal rotation on the lead side. When restricted, the lumbar spine compensates with excessive rotation — creating disc bulges, facet irritation, and muscle spasm.
The fix: Restore hip internal rotation through manual therapy and specific mobility drills.
Golfer’s Elbow ← Thoracic Rotation Deficit
The deeper question is: why is your wrist and forearm working so hard? Often, it’s because your thoracic spine is not rotating sufficiently, forcing the arms and hands to generate compensatory force.
The fix: Thoracic spine mobilization, rotation exercises in golf-specific positions, and dry needling.
Shoulder Pain ← Scapular Instability
When scapular stabilizing muscles are weak or inhibited, the rotator cuff tendons get compressed during overhead movements.
The fix: Scapular stabilization program, manual therapy for thoracic extension, rotator cuff strengthening in golf-specific positions.
Recovery Stacking for Golfers
Cryotherapy after manual therapy manages post-treatment inflammation so you can play the next day. PEMF is effective for chronic tendinitis. Normatec promotes circulation in the lower body. Red light therapy supports tissue healing for chronic or degenerative conditions.
Stop Treating the Symptoms — Find the Source
If stretching, icing, and anti-inflammatories haven’t provided lasting improvement, the problem isn’t your commitment — it’s the approach. No referral required. Call (772) 214-4402 or book your golf injury evaluation online. Serving golfers from Hobe Sound, Palm City, Jupiter, Port St. Lucie, and the Treasure Coast.