Tyler’s Comeback: Rebuilding Strength & Confidence for Powerlifting
Tyler is no stranger to hard work. A competitive powerlifter in his early 30s, he’s been chasing PBs and pushing his limits under the barbell for years. But when a sharp, nagging pain in his lower back started creeping in during deadlifts and back squats, it wasn’t something he could just "train through" anymore. The pain was affecting his performance, recovery, and—most importantly—his confidence in the gym.
He reached out to us at Elite Health and Performance after hearing from a few lifters in his training circle that we don’t just treat symptoms—we look at the whole picture.
The Initial Consult: Looking Beyond the Pain
On assessment, we found a few key things holding Tyler back:
Lumbar overloading due to poor glute recruitment and core bracing, especially at the bottom of his squat and during heavy pulls
Restricted hip internal rotation, particularly on his left side, which was shifting load toward his lower back
Anterior pelvic tilt and thoracolumbar stiffness contributing to poor load transfer
Loss of control during eccentric phases (especially during deadlifts), likely due to fatigue and compensation patterns
This wasn’t a simple “rest and stretch” situation. Tyler needed a plan to rebuild control, restore mobility, and rewire his lifting patterns from the ground up—without keeping him out of the gym.
The Treatment Game Plan: Rebuild, Don’t Just Repair
We got to work with a hybrid approach combining manual therapy and movement retraining.
Manual Treatment Included:
Active Release Technique (ART) for iliacus, QL, and glute med/min to free up deep restrictions
Dry needling through glutes, paraspinals, and the thoracolumbar junction to reduce tone and improve activation
Cupping + fascial scraping around the lateral hip and TFL to help restore hip range
Joint mobilisation through the lumbar spine and SIJ to improve segmental movement
Movement Therapy Focused On:
Deep core reactivation drills (e.g., DNS-inspired dead bugs, TA leg floats) to improve trunk stiffness without compensation
Hip dissociation and control work, like 90/90 transitions and banded hip cars
Tempo squats, paused deadlifts, and isometric holds to retrain load tolerance and confidence at depth
Single leg loading and RDL variations to fix asymmetries
Importantly, Tyler never had to stop training—he modified volume and intensity slightly but stayed active with purpose-built accessory work and deloaded patterns.
The Results: Stronger Than Ever
By week 4, Tyler’s symptoms were significantly reduced. He reported no more “zinging” in the back with hip hinge work, and his squat felt more stable through the full range.
By week 6, he was back to near full lifting capacity with better form and less fatigue post-session. We retested his squat and deadlift patterns and saw huge improvements in hip control, glute activation, and trunk positioning.
By week 10, he hit a lifetime PB in the deadlift—with zero pain, better hip drive, and more bar speed off the floor than ever before.
Now, Tyler checks in every 4–6 weeks during comp prep for prehab-style tune-ups—keeping tissues happy, joints mobile, and his nervous system firing cleanly.
Tyler’s Words:
“I’ve been to plenty of practitioners who either tell me to stop lifting or just work on the painful spot. This was the first time someone actually dug deep into the ‘why’ behind my pain, and built a plan that respected my sport. I’m lifting pain-free and with more confidence than before the injury.”
If you’re lifting through pain, you don’t have to guess and hope it gets better.
Let us show you how we rebuild strength, mobility, and confidence—so you can lift at your best again.
