Back pain is common in sports. Studies show that up to 86% of gymnasts, 27% of college football players, and nearly two-thirds of adolescent athletes experience back pain at some point.
You don’t have to be a professional athlete to be affected. It can show up after a hard workout, a game, or even a minor movement that just didn’t feel right.
In many cases, rest and basic care help symptoms settle down. However, back pain can be a sign that your body needs more than time off.
Knowing when to seek professional help can protect your performance, prevent long-term injury, and help you return to your activities safely.
Tony Zemlinsky, DC, known as Dr. Z, is a licensed and certified sports injury specialist here at Active Rehab Clinics and regularly helps people manage sports-related back pain.
Take a moment and learn when back pain is normal and when it warrants professional help.
Mild soreness or stiffness after activity is often part of training, especially if you’ve increased intensity, tried a new back-strengthening movement, or returned after time off.
Muscle fatigue lasts a few days. Surprisingly, back pain can pop up one to three days after a hard workout, so you might not realize it’s connected at first.
Minor strains typically improve within a few days with rest, light movement, and proper recovery.
If your pain is improving day by day and doesn’t interfere with normal movement, it may be reasonable to monitor it for a short time.
Sports-related back pain deserves professional evaluation if it doesn’t follow a normal recovery pattern or begins to limit how you move.
If your back pain isn’t improving (or is getting worse) after several days of rest, your body may need targeted treatment to heal properly.
Recurring back pain after practices, workouts, or games often signals an underlying movement issue, muscle imbalance, or mechanical problem that won’t resolve on its own.
If pain is changing how you run, lift, twist, or swing, it’s time to get checked. Compensating for pain can lead to additional injuries elsewhere in the body.
If your pain starts to creep into other areas of your life, don’t brush it off. For example, if you can’t lift your groceries or you skip social outings because of back pain, there’s something else going on.
Some symptoms suggest more than a simple strain and should be evaluated sooner rather than later:
These signs may indicate nerve involvement or structural injury that benefits from professional assessment.
At Active Rehab Clinics, your treatment starts with understanding why your back pain is happening, not just where it hurts. Dr. Z begins with a thorough evaluation of your symptoms, activity level, lifestyle, and medical history.
Next, he conducts a detailed biomechanical analysis. This may include advanced technology such as Physimax motion-capture testing and Optojump gait analysis, which help identify movement patterns, imbalances, and mechanical issues that contribute to your lower back pain.
Based on your evaluation, Dr. Z develops a personalized, holistic treatment plan tailored to your sport, goals, and body. Depending on your needs, treatment may include:
At Active Rehab Clinics, Dr. Z prioritizes soft tissue–based modalities and neuromuscular rehabilitation over traditional high-velocity, low-amplitude (HVLA) adjustments. His focus is on restoring muscle function, improving movement mechanics, and creating long-term stability, rather than relying primarily on joint manipulation.
If your feet are connected to your back pain, our team focuses on strengthening the intrinsic foot and lower-extremity musculature rather than relying on orthotics or braces. The goal is to improve your natural biomechanical forces and restore proper movement patterns from the ground up.
Your care doesn’t end with treatment. Dr. Z can also provide guidance to prevent future sports-related back injuries. For example, he may teach you exercises to strengthen your core or legs, which can improve your stability and reduce strain on your back.
If sports-related lower back pain is holding you back, call Active Rehab Clinics or schedule an appointment online to get expert, comprehensive care.
