Golf Back Pain
Golf back pain is a hindrance to all players who love the game. Golf is a sport of leisure, but still requires strong
back muscles
in order to play. Golf is an activity that can cause back pain for several reasons. However, it is possible to minimize the risk to your
back
and maximize your enjoyment of the game. After all, nothing will spoil 18 holes on a beautiful day faster than a muscle cramp, back spasm or flare-up of painful symptoms.
Lumbar Golf Back Pain
Putting is of little consequence when it comes to back pain. Driving is another story…Driving the ball imposes huge torque and torsion on your lower back. (In English, this means that your back is both stressed by the force of the swing and twisted at the same time.) These two forces put a huge stress load on your lower back muscles and lumbar spine. Most golf related
back injuries
occur from driving, although many are not felt till hours, or even days, later. A few players may hurt themselves bending, but this kind of injury can occur anytime and anywhere and is not inherently related to golf.
Avoiding Golf Back Pain
It is crucial to have proper technique in your golf swing. In order to effectively compete, the posture and swing must be correct. To minimize potential damage to your lower back, the technique must also be perfect. It is worth studying with a professional in order to learn the intricacies of a fluid swing. The cost of the lessons will pay off two fold. Your game will get better and your back won’t get worse.
Common Golf Back Pain Injuries
Most golf back pain is due to a
muscular
symptomatic condition. Strains and
sprains
are common occurrences during a game of golf. Ligament pulls and tears can be agonizing and are often the result of too much torsion in the back. Many golfers wind up the waist too much before the swing and carry through too far after it.
Herniated discs
might occur when too much sudden centrifugal force is applied to the lower back. Discs herniate out of place rather easily, especially if there is already a degenerated disc condition present. Remember, that many people have moderate
degenerative disc disease
in their lumbar spines by the age of 30. Older golfers face additional risks.
Osteoporosis
can cause
vertebral fractures
in elderly golfers.
Spinal osteoarthritis
can be a condition that is aggravated by golf. Osteoarthritis can also cause
degenerative spondylolisthesis,
which is a further risk for older golfers. All of these conditions can be worsened by a forceful golf swing.
Preventing Golf Back Pain
Golf, like all
sports,
requires a proper warm up. Take time to
stretch
out your muscles before playing. Don’t simply start driving balls without a few minutes putting around first. Take a few light practice swings before using full effort to hit the ball, especially on the first few holes.Don’t get so intense in your play that you lose the enjoyment of the game. Intensity causes tension. Tension is bad for your back muscles.
Tense back muscles
are easy to injure. Injured muscles will make you shoot a 30 over par… OUCH x 2 When bending to pick up the ball, bend at the knees. Repeated driving and bending is a sure recipe for muscular
lower back pain.
The same applies to eyeing up a putt. Kneel down, but keep your back straight, as much as possible. Hire a caddy to carry your bag. Golf is an expensive game. If you are playing, you probably have a little extra $$$ to spend on a decent caddy. Swinging the clubs, followed by carrying your own bag, is a risky combination.
Recommendation for Golf Back Pain
Unless you are a real professional, spend more time enjoying the game, rather than pushing yourself to compete. Everyone wants to play well and win. However, this is a losing proposition in the long run. We will all decrease in our abilities as we age. Our golf game will often get worse as well. What we are left with is the love for the game. Remember to make that the most important part of your golf experience.
Stress
on the golf course makes for increased risk of back pain, increased risk of
hypertension,
increased risk of heart attack, increased risk of stroke and a decreased chance of actually playing well. Learn to roll with the punches a little and not be so critical of your game. After all, it is a GAME.
Golf Back Pain to Back Pain
7/17/06 Revised 2/3/12
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