What was the challenge?

Low back pain is common in football, but AJ’s situation was uniquely high stakes.

After injuring his back, AJ was released from his NFL team. When he came in, he was shaken. He was worried about how he was going to make money, worried about his future, and worried that his opportunity in the league might be slipping away.

To make matters worse, his back pain escalated dramatically in the days following his release. Between getting cut and an upcoming NFL tryout just days away, his symptoms became so severe that basic movement was difficult.

The constraints were clear:

• Severe low back pain limiting movement

• Extremely limited time window

• An upcoming NFL tryout that could not be postponed

This was not a long-term rehab scenario. Time was the most critical variable.

What was our process?

From the start, everything we did needed to be precise, intentional, and efficient.

Step 1: Calm Symptoms and Restore Movement

The first visit focused on one goal: settling his system down.

We prioritized:

• Manual therapy and targeted soft tissue work

• Stimulation to reduce pain and restore input

• Very specific breathing strategies to reduce protective tone

• Gentle, controlled movement to reintroduce spinal motion

We paired symptom reduction with low-level spinal loading, carefully reintroducing movement without flaring symptoms and allowing his nervous system to downshift.

Step 2: Layer Stress With Precision

On the second day, we began applying more stress, but still with a clear plan.

We introduced:

• Low-level loading at very specific joint angles and positions

• Close monitoring of symptom response

• Gradual exposure to movement patterns required for football

As AJ demonstrated tolerance, we progressed him into controlled running drills. That progression marked a turning point. Once he handled that workload without setbacks, we knew his back was ready for higher demand.

Step 3: Prepare for Performance, Not Rehab

The final day was not treated like rehab. It was treated like preparation.

We trained as if we were heading into the NFL Combine:

• Full warm-up sequence

• Movement patterns he would be asked to demonstrate

• High-intensity, football-relevant efforts

AJ moved cleanly through every requirement. Pain was no longer limiting performance.

Where is he now?

The next day, AJ flew to Atlanta for his tryout with the Atlanta Falcons. He performed well and earned a roster spot.

This outcome was not the result of rest or generic treatment. It came from precision, timing, and understanding exactly how to prepare an athlete to perform when the margin for error is razor thin.