YOUR BACK SHOULD NOT
CONTROL YOUR SPORT.

Back pain can change how an athlete lifts, rotates, sprints, throws, lands, and competes. It also creates a harder question: what is safe to keep doing while the problem is being addressed?

Low-back pain is a symptom with several possible contributors. Rest may settle symptoms without rebuilding the capacity that practice and competition require, while returning to the same workload without a plan may reproduce the problem.

Valen starts with the athlete's history, current symptoms, training load, strength, movement demands, sport, and screening for findings that may require additional medical assessment. The goal is a clear explanation and a plan that progresses from rehab back to performance.

BOOK A FREE CONSULTATION

This is a free 15-minute discovery call, not the clinical evaluation.

WHY VALEN

HOW VALEN WORKS

SPORT AND LOAD CONTEXT

The evaluation considers what the athlete has been doing, what changed, and which training or sport demands reproduce the problem.

ONE PROVIDER

Dr. Keagan Barrett completes the evaluation, builds the plan, coaches the sessions, and reviews progress throughout care.

OBJECTIVE BASELINE

Strength, power, speed, and movement testing are used when they help explain the athlete's current capacity and next priority.

PROGRESSIVE LOADING

Training advances from tolerable positions and loads toward the speed, force, and volume the athlete needs for competition.

REHAB TO PERFORMANCE

The plan does not stop when symptoms settle. It continues toward the physical demands that make the athlete prepared to train and compete.

IN-PERSON AND REMOTE SUPPORT

Programming between visits keeps the plan clear, while remote coaching is available for athletes outside Phoenix.

THE PROCESS

WHAT WORKING TOGETHER LOOKS LIKE

01

UNDERSTAND THE PATTERN

Review symptoms, training history, workload changes, sport demands, and the activities that currently provoke or limit the athlete.

02

BUILD THE PLAN

Create a baseline, define the first training block, and decide what the athlete can continue while capacity is rebuilt.

03

RETURN TO DEMAND

Progress strength, power, speed, rotation, lifting, and sport exposure according to the athlete's response, reassessment, and the demands of the sport.

ATHLETE EXPERIENCES

WHAT ATHLETES SAY

"As a professional golfer with lower back pain, Keagan was able to identify and treat my condition with great communication and attentiveness. I've played a full season without pain after taking on Keagan's process."

NATE VONTZ

"Keagan has worked with my teenage athlete on rolled ankles, back issues, and more. Keagan takes a lot of time to identify the root cause and create a path to recovery."

FAITH K

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why does my back pain return when I train?

Recurring symptoms can involve several factors, including changes in training load, movement demands, recovery, and the amount of force the athlete can currently tolerate. The evaluation is used to understand the full pattern before a plan is recommended.

Does low-back rehab mean I have to stop training?

Not automatically. Appropriate activity and exercise are often part of low-back pain management, but the right training decision depends on the athlete's symptoms, history, sport, screening, and current tolerance. The evaluation helps decide what can continue, what should change, and what needs to be rebuilt.

What does Valen assess for athlete low-back pain?

The assessment considers the athlete's history, symptom behavior, training load, strength, power, movement options, and the positions or tasks that reproduce the problem. Testing is selected to answer a specific clinical question.

Can low-back rehab include lifting and sport practice?

Yes, when those activities are appropriate for the athlete's current stage. The plan progresses from tolerable training toward the strength, speed, and sport exposure required for competition.

How long does athlete low-back rehab take?

There is no universal timeline. Progress depends on the presentation, symptom duration, sport demands, training load, medical findings when relevant, and response to rehab. Valen uses reassessment and progressive sport exposure rather than promising one fixed number of weeks.

Is remote coaching available for back pain?

Remote rehab and performance coaching are available. Whether remote care is the right starting point depends on the situation and can be discussed during the free consultation.

CLINICAL SOURCES

EVIDENCE BEHIND THIS PAGE

These resources support the general education on this page. They do not replace an individual evaluation, a surgeon's protocol, or medical advice from the athlete's care team.

Interventions for Acute and Chronic Low Back PainJournal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy clinical practice guideline
Low Back Pain in AthletesAsian Journal of Sports Medicine review

RELATED CONDITIONS WE TREAT

Hip Pain in Athletes
Return-to-Sport Testing
Sports Injury Rehab

LEARN MORE

Lower Back Pain in Baseball: Why It Is Not Just PostureSports Physical Therapy vs Regular PT

START WITH A
CLEAR CONVERSATION.

If this sounds like your situation, a free 15-minute call is the easiest way to find out if Valen is the right fit. The clinical evaluation is a separate 60-minute visit.

BOOK A FREE CONSULTATION
BOOK A FREE CONSULTATION