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Pain and Spine Medicine

Yoga for Back Pain Prevention in Golfers

Thursday, October 23, 2025
12:45 PM - 2:15 PM MT
Location: Kiosk 4

    Primary Author(s)

  • JV

    Justin Virk, MD

    Physician
    ECU Health (Vidant Medical Center/East Carolina University) PM&R Program
    Cary, North Carolina

Case Diagnosis: Myofascial low back pain

Case Description or Program Description: Myofascial back pain in golfers relieved or prevented through Yoga

Setting: A 40 year old male presents to the pain clinic with a 4 month history of low back pain, exacerbated by physical activity and not responsive to oral medications Tylenol, NSAIDs, and Gabapentin.

Assessment/Results: This 40 year old male who is an avid golfer presented with chronic low back pain that initially began after golfing. The patient tried multiple medications such as Tylenol, NSAIDs including Ibuprofen and Meloxicam, as well as Gabapentin. MRI of the lumbar spine revealed no acute abnormality. Physical examination revealed mild tenderness to palpation of the lumbar paraspinals, with decreased range of motion including flexion and extension. Motor strength, sensation to light touch, and deep tendon reflexes were all normal. Provocative testing including straight leg raise, sacroiliac joint maneuvers, and hip pathology maneuvers were also negative. The patient trialed PT with some relief, however, began to practice Yoga three to four times per week with almost one hundred percent pain relief. Additionally, the patient did not have any recurrence of pain while continuing to use Yoga as a preventative therapy.

Discussion (relevance): While many patients eventually become candidates for interventional procedures regarding low back pain, conservative treatment has shown significant relief in healthy patients, particularly if there is no acute abnormality seen on imaging or physical examination. While conservative treatment options including PT are preferred for myofascial pain, Yoga has also shown to have significant relief in physically active patients.

Conclusions: Although Yoga is not a prescriptive form of therapy, it should be considered in young and healthy patients who are physically active prior to a myofascial injury, as consistent usage of this exercise can result in relief of pain, as well as prevention of injuries during activity.