Tiger Wood’s repeated and debilitating back problems over the years are evidence of the fact that even a relatively low-impact sport like golf can take its toll on the body. For most long-term or frequent golfers, overwork of the lumbar, or lower, spine can result in significant back pain and problems like muscle strains, disc injuries, degenerative arthritis and fractures. If golf is your preferred weekend pastime or you’re considering taking up golf as a serious sport, you should know that there are ways to prevent many types of golf-related injuries and ways to treat them once they occur.
The Keys To Injury Prevention
While there’s no guaranteed way to prevent every kind of lower back injury that you might sustain while playing golf, there are some key steps to take to lessen the chances of an injury:
- Warm up before playing. The worst thing you can do to your back is to climb out of your car, stroll over to the first tee and take a big swing at a ball. Golf, like any other sport, requires a warm-up period beforehand that will help to stretch muscles so that they don’t tighten up with that first swing. To stretch muscles in your shoulders and torso, hold a golf club behind your neck and shoulders and rotate your torso. To stretch hip muscles, slowly pull your knees (one at a time) up to your chest. Stretch the hamstrings in your legs by bending over and trying to touch your toes or by doing slow squats.
- Learn how to swing a club the right way. The movements associated with playing golf are not natural or intuitive, so it is vital that you learn the right way to swing a club before you develop bad habits on your own that can put undue pressure on your lower back and cause serious, long-term back pain. Proper body alignment and good balance are achieved by bending your knees and keeping your feet shoulder-width apart. Your spine should be straight, and you should bend forward at the hips with your weight evenly distributed on the balls of your feet. Your best bet is to get coaching in the right way to swing a club from a golf pro.
- Carry your golf bag safely. If you insist on carrying your own golf bag, rather than using a wheeled stand or a golf cart, use a bag that features dual shoulder straps so that the weight of the bag is distributed evenly across your back.
Treatment For Lower Back Injuries
If you’re experiencing lower back pain after playing golf, there are steps you can take to alleviate pain and keep your injury from worsening. For muscle aches and strains, massage and other types of manual therapy techniques can help, along with cold or heat therapy, anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen, and plenty of rest. If your back pain persists even with these treatments, consult a physician to find out if there is a specific medical cause for the pain and discontinue playing golf until your physician has cleared you to play.
If you are a golf enthusiast who is experiencing back pain that you feel is associated with the sport, make your first stop Tieperman Health & Wellness. At Tieperman, we have a number of treatments, like massage and physiotherapy, that can help to alleviate your discomfort and get you back on the links. Call us for an appointment at (214) 705-1799 or visit https://tiepermanhealth.com/.
Back Pain Frisco TX
Frisco TX Chiropractor | Tieperman Health & Wellness
8760 3rd St
Frisco, Texas 75034
214-705-1799