Case Study 1: Low Back Pain & SI Joint Dysfunction After a Golf Injury

Patient: RJ, male, age 31 — Green Bay, WI · Condition: Acute mechanical low back pain with left-sided referred pain · Care provided by Dr. Hunter Schultz, DC

Patient Presentation

RJ, a 31-year-old male, came to 920 Chiropractic in significant distress, hunched over and struggling to walk unaided. The day before, he had swung a golf club for the first time that season and felt an immediate twinge in his low back. By the next morning, he was in extreme low back pain that radiated up the spine and into his left groin — pain severe enough that he could not go to work.

Clinical Assessment

Dr. Schultz performed a thorough history and physical examination, followed by lumbar spine x-rays to evaluate the structural cause of RJ’s symptoms and rule out fracture or other serious pathology. Examination findings pointed to a misalignment of the right sacroiliac (SI) joint, which was placing pressure on the surrounding nerves in the low back — producing pain that radiated toward the groin, a pattern commonly seen with SI joint dysfunction and sometimes mistaken for a disc-related issue or sciatica.

Treatment Plan & Clinical Rationale

Dr. Schultz built a care plan around three complementary therapies, each targeting a different part of the underlying mechanical problem:

  • Roller table therapy — to stretch and mobilize the spine and reduce muscular guarding
  • Spinal decompression — to relieve pressure on the lumbar discs and nerves
  • Chiropractic adjustments — to correct the SI joint misalignment and restore proper vertebral positioning

Outcome

Over the course of 10 treatments across one month, RJ became completely pain-free and regained his normal walking pattern. He returned to working at full capacity and resumed the activities he loved, without restriction.

Clinical Takeaway

RJ’s case is a common presentation in active adults: a sudden, unaccustomed movement (in this case, a golf swing) triggers an SI joint misalignment that produces pain radiating well beyond the low back itself. Identifying the true source of referred pain — rather than treating the radiating symptom alone — allowed for a fast, conservative recovery without medication or imaging escalation beyond the initial x-rays.

Case details shared with patient consent. Individual results vary based on condition, history, and adherence to the care plan.

Book Your Appointment!

Get started on your path to optimal health today.