Abstract
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have discussed the correlation with low back pain in the professional golfer. The majority of these cases have been treated with strength and stability exercises for the global stabilizing system - the erector spinae and the rectus abdominis. Few studies acknowledged the relationship of hip stability and mobility as a component of low back pain in this population. CASE DESCRIPTION: This study describes the functional mobility of a golf professional after lumbar surgery and subsequent treatment that focused on the hip and lumbopelvic stabilizers. Functional activites were performed and analyzed using an iOS app, Coach's Eye. Treatment was prescribed based on the outcomes of the functional analysis as well as manual scar tissue mobilization to decrease pain and increase mobility. Exercise was focused on the local spinal stabilizers, multifidus and Transverse abdominis, to improve spinal and hip stability. OUTCOMES: At the end of the case, the golf professional was able to return to full teaching and playing a full round without any complaint of low back pain. He demonstrated significant improvements in his ability to complete functional testing with decreased compensatory techniques and pain. DISCUSSION: These improvements may have resulted from the manual therapy intervention as well as increased hip mobility and stability during weight bearing and rotational movements. In conclusion, further research could assist in determining whether the manual treatments or the functional stability training were the cause of his improvement.