Are you a keen golfer or perhaps you live with someone who is? If so you may have heard grumbles and mentions regarding back pain while playing golf.
It is estimated that around a 1/3rd of people playing golf suffers with back pain at some stage. This may come as no surprise to some when you consider the demands on all areas of the body from a single golf swing.
Golf is one of those sports that really does demand all parts of the body to be working well in order to dissipate forces of a golf swing.
Mobility and stability is required from stable planting of the feet and ankles on the ground, right through the back and thorax, to the upper limb and hand. If one part of this finely tuned system is not working well, something is likely to niggle along the chain and this is often the lower back.
When a golfer takes a swing at the ball, the back is required to bend, twist and rotate to drive the ball forwards. This requires stability, coordination and mobility.
If we have a body where some muscles are perhaps a little weaker than others and some parts of the spine are a little stiff, other areas will compensate for this and may become overstrained or more easily fatigued. The golf swing is often taken from the one side too, which places more demands on half of the body than the other side.
Back pain help for golfers
The good news is there is a lot that can be done to help ease golf back pain. As explained above, it may not be a case of simply looking at and addressing the immediate painful area, but looking at the bigger picture to examine areas of stiffness and restriction or areas of weakness and potential fatigue.
This may involve some self-help, alongside some manual therapy treatment too.
Self care for golfers with back pain
Self care could involve improvements to stretch routines on a daily and pre/post game basis.
Focusing on stretching not only the back, but the arms and legs too. It may also include working on core strength, balance and co-ordination. Take a look at these basic stretch ideas to get you started Golf Stretches for Flexibility: 7 Stretches for Better Golf and Reduced Injury – Performance Golf
For some it may involve a few sessions with a pro teacher to see how your technique could be modified to be less demanding on your body. Check out lessons near you to help PGA Play – Find a Golf Lesson Near You
Using a golf buggy instead of carrying equipment may be a good move. Equipment is heavy and constantly lifting it from hole to hole, can add demands on a weary body.
Manual therapy for golfers with back pain
This may include massage to loosen tension areas, mobilisation, ultrasound, acupuncture and rehab work.
A good initial step would be a visit to an osteopath to assess your overall mechanics and areas of potential problem, to then work out a program, tailored towards your needs. What is needed for one golfer, will not be the same for another. They can help direct you towards therapists who may also be of benefit and support you on your recovery.
Who knows in a few years time, you could be our next Olympic Golfer!
