Golf and Low Back Pain

Hitting the links may coincide with an annoying problem that takes away from the fun of the game. That problem is back pain. It is documented that 80 % of Americans will suffer from back pain at some point in their lifetime and that one in three Americans are currently experiencing back pain. These figures may be even higher when strictly referring to the golfing population.

Whether you are a professional, amateur or weekend golfer you are susceptible to back pain. The golf swing in general produces a great deal of stress on the back. Compressive forces on the back during a golf swing can be approximately eight times your body weight. In comparison, running increases the compressive load on your back by four to seven times your body weight.

There are two areas of the golf swing that can be especially damaging to the back. These areas are the backswing and the finish. The backswing causes stress on the back from the rotation that occurs in the upper body (shoulders) in relation to the lower body (pelvis). The greater the rotational difference (i.e. a large shoulder turn with minimal pelvic rotation) the greater the stress on the muscles, ligaments, joints and discs in the back.

The finish of the golf swing can be compromising if a reverse C position is obtained. The reverse C position refers to the position achieved by the low back upon finish of the golf swing. This reverse C also puts an increased stress on the structures of the low back including muscles, ligaments and especially discs and joints.

Chiropractic care can be a very effective treatment for those individuals suffering from low back pain.

Dr. Giolekas is a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician who has undergone specific training in identifying and treating golf related injuries. He can examine you to determine areas of spinal misalignment, muscular weakness and muscular tightness that may not only be causing low back pain, but hindering the golf swing as well. His treatment program may include prescribing specific exercises to help to increase low back strength, low back endurance and improve overall body flexibility.

By properly identifying and treating the cause of the low back pain, people can return to playing golf with decreased pain which in turn leads to lower scores and brings the fun back to the game.