How to Prepare Your Back for Golf Season

John K. Hong, M.D. | 4/11/25

As the days get longer and the fairways start calling, golfers everywhere are dusting off their clubs and gearing up for another season on the course. But before you tee off, there’s one thing that needs just as much attention as your swing: your back.

Golf is a beautiful game, but it’s also deceptively hard on the body—especially the lower back. If you’re not careful, an early-season injury can bench you for weeks. Here’s how to make sure your back is as ready for the season as your short game.

1. Start with Mobility

Back pain in golfers is often tied to poor mobility—especially in the hips and thoracic spine (your upper and mid-back). If those areas are stiff, your lower back ends up doing all the work during your swing.

Try these mobility drills:

• Cat-Cow Stretch: A great warm-up for spinal movement.

• Thoracic Rotations: Open up that upper back with some dynamic seated or kneeling rotations.

• Hip 90/90s: Loosen up your hips to take pressure off your lumbar spine.

Do these daily or at least before you play or hit the range.

2. Strengthen Your Core (the Right Way)

Your core isn’t just your abs—it's your entire trunk, including the muscles around your spine. A strong core helps stabilize your body throughout the golf swing, reducing stress on the back.

Focus on:

• Dead Bugs and Bird Dogs: These improve core stability with low spinal strain.

• Side Planks: Great for building oblique strength, which supports rotational movement.

• Pallof Presses: An underrated move that challenges your core to resist rotation—a key for golfers.

  
  

Skip the crunches. They can actually aggravate back issues.

3. Don’t Skip the Warm-Up

Too many golfers go from the car to the first tee without a real warm-up. Swinging cold is asking for a tweak—or worse.

Before your round:

• Spend 5–10 minutes doing dynamic movements (arm circles, leg swings, trunk twists).

• Take practice swings gradually, increasing range and intensity.

• Do a few air squats or lunges to get the blood flowing.

  
  

4. Check Your Swing Mechanics

A swing that puts too much torque on the lower back is a recipe for injury. If you’re feeling pain after playing, consider seeing a golf pro or physical therapist for a movement assessment.

Things to watch for:

• Excessive lumbar extension (arching your lower back)

• Limited hip rotation

• Over-reliance on arms instead of using the whole body

Sometimes, small tweaks to your posture or tempo can make a huge difference.

5. Recover Like a Pro

Recovery isn’t just for tour players. If you’re playing multiple rounds or practicing heavily, your back will thank you for a good cooldown routine.

Post-round tips:

• Gentle stretching (especially hamstrings and hip flexors)

• Foam rolling or massage

• Epsom salt bath or light walking to keep things moving

  
  

And always listen to your body—soreness is fine, sharp pain is not.

Final Thoughts

Your back is the unsung hero of your golf game. Treat it with care, and it’ll carry you through the season (and hopefully to a lower handicap). A few minutes a day spent on mobility, strength, and recovery can save you from weeks on the sidelines.

Here’s to a healthy, strong, and swing-ready golf season—see you on the green!

If you are experiencing back pain, for more information or to schedule a consultation, contact our clinic today at (435) 714-7180. Parkview has offices in Park City and Salt Lake City to conveniently serve you!

Scrambler Therapy: New Horizons in Chronic Pain Management

​John K. Hong, M.D. | 4/8/2025

Scrambler therapy for chronic pain

Chronic pain affects millions worldwide, often leading to diminished quality of life and reliance on medications that may have undesirable side effects. Among emerging non-invasive treatments, scrambler therapy has garnered attention for its potential to alleviate various chronic pain conditions.​

Understanding Scrambler Therapy

Scrambler therapy involves the application of low-intensity electrical stimulation through the skin via electrodes placed near areas of pain. The therapy aims to "scramble" pain signals by replacing them with non-pain information, effectively retraining the brain's perception of pain. Unlike transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), which delivers consistent electrical pulses, scrambler therapy varies the frequency and intensity of stimulation to disrupt chronic pain signals more effectively. ​Lippincott Journals+4Home+4ScienceDaily+4Home+3Lippincott Journals+3Wikipedia+3

Efficacy and Recent Studies

Recent research underscores the potential benefits of scrambler therapy for chronic pain management:​

• Systematic Review (2022): A comprehensive review published in Neuromodulation analyzed 21 studies, including randomized controlled trials and observational studies, focusing on scrambler therapy for neuropathic pain, particularly chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. The findings suggest that scrambler therapy is safe, well-tolerated, and provides clinically meaningful pain reduction, with some patients experiencing relief lasting up to three months post-treatment. ​PubMed

  
  

• Meta-Analysis (2024): A dose-response meta-analysis published in Brain Network and Modulation evaluated the duration of scrambler therapy's efficacy in chronic neuropathic pain management. The study demonstrated a significant reduction in pain scores post-treatment, with peak relief observed around day 40 and effects sustained for up to 90 days. The authors concluded that scrambler therapy offers a clinically significant and sustained reduction in pain compared to conventional treatments. ​Lippincott Journals

  
  

• Post-Stroke Pain Study (2024): A randomized, single-blind, sham-controlled trial investigated scrambler therapy's effectiveness in patients with post-stroke pain. Participants who underwent five sessions of scrambler therapy reported a significant reduction in pain, with 70% experiencing more than a 50% reduction immediately post-intervention. However, the study noted that while some benefits persisted, the marked differences in pain levels between the scrambler and sham groups diminished over time, suggesting the potential need for booster treatments. ​Lippincott Journals+1calmaretherapynj.com+1

  
  

Comparative Effectiveness

Scrambler therapy has been compared to other non-invasive treatments like TENS. A review published in The New England Journal of Medicine indicated that scrambler therapy might be more effective than TENS in providing significant relief for chronic pain patients. The review highlighted that approximately 80%–90% of patients experienced substantial pain relief with scrambler therapy, and the effects were often long-lasting. ​

https://www.nejm.org/doi/abs/10.1056/NEJMra2110098

Considerations and Accessibility

While scrambler therapy shows promise, accessibility remains a challenge. The therapy is available in certain hospitals and clinics but is not yet widely accessible. Additionally, insurance coverage varies, with some companies not covering the costs, which can amount to hundreds of dollars per session. ​Harvard Health+1Lippincott Journals+1

Conclusion

Scrambler therapy represents a promising advancement in the non-invasive management of chronic pain, offering significant relief for various conditions, particularly neuropathic pain. Ongoing research is essential to further establish its long-term efficacy, optimal treatment protocols, and broader accessibility. For individuals suffering from chronic pain, scrambler therapy may provide a valuable alternative to traditional pain management strategies, potentially improving quality of life without the side effects associated with pharmacological treatments.

For more information or to schedule a consultation, contact our clinic today at (435) 714-7180. Parkview has offices in Park City and Salt Lake City to conveniently serve you!

When To Seek an Interventional Pain Physician?

John K. Hong, M.D. | 4/6/2025

Living with pain isn’t normal—and it doesn’t have to be your “new normal.”

If you’ve been struggling with pain that isn’t getting better, it may be time to see an interventional pain specialist. These are physicians trained to diagnose and treat complex pain conditions using targeted, minimally invasive techniques that go beyond medications or basic therapies.

Here are some signs it might be time to schedule a visit:

🔹 Pain lasting longer than 3 months – Chronic pain can stem from spine issues, joint degeneration, nerve damage, or post-surgical changes. If it's lingering, it deserves a deeper look.

🔹 Back or neck pain that limits your daily life – Whether it started suddenly or gradually, spine-related pain often responds well to interventional approaches like injections, radiofrequency ablation, or spinal cord stimulation.

🔹 Nerve pain or numbness – Shooting, burning, or tingling sensations (sciatica, CRPS, diabetic neuropathy, etc.) often point to nerve dysfunction that can be addressed with precision treatments.

🔹 Pain after surgery that never fully resolved – If healing didn’t bring the relief you hoped for, we can explore why—and what else can be done.

🔹 You’ve tried medications, PT, or chiropractic care without lasting relief – Interventional care often fills the gap between conservative treatments and major surgery.

An interventional pain doctor doesn't just manage symptoms—we work to identify the source of your pain and treat it at its root, using image-guided techniques and a holistic view of your condition.

You don’t have to keep pushing through. Relief may be closer than you think.

Ready to take the next step? Reach out for a consultation and let’s talk about what’s possible.

For more information or to schedule a consultation, contact our clinic today at (435) 714-7180. Parkview has offices in Park City and Salt Lake City to conveniently serve you!