How to Work with Athletes that Have Low Back Pain

By djpope

February 10, 2018

coach, Crossfit, injury, low back, Lower Back, lumbar, lumbar spine, modification, modifications, modify, olympic weightlifting, pain, personal trainer, powerlifting, weight lifting

Over 80% of the U.S. population will experience low back pain at some point in their life.  It’s amazing just how prevalent lower back pain is.  If you haven’t experienced it for yourself yet or worked with anyone with low back pain then you’re probably either a brand new coach or lying.  Fortunately, most cases of lower back pain will go away in the first few months but some individuals will go on to have chronic longer lasting pain.  Unfortunately recurrences of low back pain are extremely common with 85% of people experiencing atleast 1 other recurrence within their lifetime.  Low back pain is also the #2 most common cause of disability in the U.S.

At some point in your career I’m sure you’ll be working with someone experiencing low back pain.  Fortunately for us lower back pain generally improves with exercise and the likelihood of recurrence decreases with exercise.  These are all good reasons not to be afraid to exercise with your lower back pain athletes.

How to Work with Athletes that Have Low Back Pain

That being said, athletes with low back pain can be challenging to work with for sure, but if you understand a few basic principles they become much easier to handle.  Check out the video below to get some quick tips for working with people with lower back pain:

If you enjoyed this short clip then I wanted to let you know it’s part of a much longer webinar series included with subscription into my Fitness Pain Free Insiders Online Mentoring Program:

“Essential Coaches Series – What Every Coach Needs to Know About Pain and Injury”

I created this series because coaches and personal trainers everywhere are working with athletes in pain every day of the week.  This series will tell you exactly what to do (and what not to do) with these athletes so they can continue working towards their goals and prevent injuries in the long haul.

  • 7 Reasons Why Athletes Get Hurt in the Gym and What to do About It
  • Evidence Based Guide to Mobility Prescription
  • What is Pain and What You Need to Know When Dealing with Athletes in Pain
  • How to Modify Exercises for Athletes with Knee, Lower Back, Shoulder and Hip Pain
  • Plus 30+ hours of webinars about all things fitness and rehabilitation

Click HERE to Learn More About Fitness Pain Free Online Mentoring Program

The spine whisperer,

Dan Pope DPT, OCS, CSCS, CF L1