Every summer, we see a predictable surge of patients in our Solon office — golfers with flaring low backs, cyclists nursing neck pain, runners dealing with hip tightness, and weekend warriors who overdid it at the first sign of warm weather. Most summer sports injuries are preventable. Here’s what you need to know.

The Most Common Summer Sports Injuries We Treat

Golf: Low Back, Hip, and Shoulder

Golf is one of the leading causes of chiropractic visits in the summer. The rotational forces of a golf swing place significant demand on the lumbar spine, SI joints, and hips. Players with limited hip mobility or thoracic rotation compensate through the lumbar spine — leading to facet joint irritation, disc stress, and muscle strains.

Cycling: Neck, Lower Back, and Knee

Road cyclists spend extended time in a sustained flexed posture that compresses the lumbar spine and strains the cervical extensors. Improper bike fit — particularly saddle height and handlebar reach — is responsible for the majority of overuse injuries in cyclists.

Running: Lumbar, Hip, and IT Band

Runners are vulnerable to a range of overuse injuries when they return to training after a winter break or ramp up mileage too quickly. Low back pain, hip flexor tightness, IT band syndrome, and piriformis irritation are common presentations. Weak glutes and poor running mechanics are frequent underlying contributors.

General Weekend Warrior Injuries

Recreational sports like pickleball, tennis, softball, and hiking create their own injury profiles. Spinal rotation, lateral movement, sudden acceleration, and repetitive overhead activity can all strain unprepared muscles and joints.

“The injury usually isn’t the sport. It’s the mismatch between what you’re asking your body to do and what it’s currently prepared to handle.”

A Pre-Season Approach to Spinal Health

A functional sports evaluation at AFCC assesses spinal mobility, hip flexibility, core stability, postural patterns, and movement quality. From this baseline, we can identify vulnerabilities before they become problems.

Warm-Up Principles That Actually Work

Spend 8-10 minutes on dynamic warm-up before any summer sport:

• Hip circles and leg swings — mobilize the hip joints through their full range
• Thoracic rotations — prepare the mid-back for rotation demands in golf and tennis
• Glute activation — bridges or clamshells to wake up the posterior chain before loading it
• Progressive cardiovascular warm-up — start slow and build intensity

When to Seek Care

Seek professional evaluation if:

• Pain is sharp, stabbing, or radiates into the arm or leg
• Discomfort persists beyond three days without improving
• Pain worsens with continued activity rather than responding to rest
• A specific incident — a fall or collision — preceded your pain

Get a Sports Performance Evaluation Before the Season Peaks

Identify vulnerabilities before they become injuries. AFCC’s functional approach keeps athletes in the game.

advfunctionalchiro.com

440-708-6643  |  34305 Solon Road, Suite 30, Solon, OH