A Better Back Means Better Golf

Golfers with back Pain

Low back pain presents one of the most common and costly diagnosis that the wellness community manages on a continuous basis and is a common reasons to visit a doctor, physiotherapist, or chiropractor. The costs for evaluating and treating low back pain patients are estimated to be beyond $50 billion dollars a year in the U.S.A.

Each individual should be assessed for their ability to function rather than focus on the back problem itself and traditional clinical tests of impairments such as range of motion and strength tests. Conventional exercises have been shown to be a good treatment for patients with low back injury. While studies have examined the benefits of exercise in treating patients with low back pain, little has been published in terms of exercise programs with respect to golfers with back pain.

Both professional and amateur golf players have a common problem – injuries to the lower back. It is poor technique and the repeated hitting of balls that usually leads to an injury. Merge that with the generally inactive lifestyle of peoples staying seated most of the day in the car or in the office – it is not surprising why there is such a high incidence of back pain among golfers.

The golf swing is an unnatural movement for most people, but especially for people with a generally inactive life style. Low back injury can result from excessive stress placed on the spine, usually when the body can not properly perform the full sequence during the golf swing. This poor mechanical movement coupled with a weak lower back means a potential for a significant amount of injury. Especially if you consider eight times your body weight is forced through your spine as you make contact with the ball!

Golf is a sport requiring a lot of rotary movement. When sitting for the most of the day, muscles get used to that position and some become “tight”, while other muscles get “stretched out”. The golf muscles have become inadequate from this long period of sitting, these are the muscles that absorb force and reduce load in a golf swing. If the hips and shoulders are tight and the lower and deep abdominals are relatively weak – there is a greater chance of them moving incorrectly and not working together. This leads to significant muscle imbalances that then puts further unnecessary stress on the back.

Here are some sensible tips for the golfer to follow in order to maintain a healthy back and avoid back pain

1. Visit a trained health professional familiar with golfers to get personal assessment of skeletal and muscle imbalances and golf specific exercises to improve your posture and overall conditioning. The proper posture and correct muscle balance will enable you to position yourself to swing the golf club effectively.
2. Take lessons and video analysis from a PGA professional to correct your body posture and technique during the golf swing.
3. Decrease the chances of injuring your back by using golf specific drills that teach the correct movements in your swing.
4. Get personalised clubs fitted properly for you in terms of length and flexibility.
5. Do a golf-specific warm-up before playing golf or hitting ball practice.

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