Low Back Pain & The Golfer
Author:
Craig Camidge, DC
I’m probably not plowing new ground when I tell you that low back pain is about as common as a lost ball on the golf course. Whether you’re an amateur with vague lower back tightness after an hour on the putting green or a senior player who needs an Icy Hot Back Patch to get through 9 holes, practically every golfer has experienced low back pain at some point. Heck, I’ve even seen pro shops where next to the bin of tees, pencils, and scorecards is a big bottle of ibuprofen for the players to grab on their way out to the first tee!
The fact is, the golf swing is just not good for your back. Yep, I said it! There is nothing about torquing your lower and mid-back at full speed in a bent forward posture that is good for your back. The problem is that it is so darned much fun that we are unlikely to stop until pain puts on the brakes. I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be that way. Here’s why:
Your lower back is made up of many, many joints. In fact, each vertebra in the lumbar spine is involved in at least 5 different joints! When all these joints are moving the way they are supposed to, the load of the golf swing is distributed rather equally among them. The problem arises when the joints stop moving the way they were intended to move. Think of the hinge on a door. If one hinge stops working, the door will still open and close but the remaining hinges will wear out prematurely and eventually, the door just stops opening. If you lube all the hinges periodically, your door will open and close forever. The same is true for your back. If we mobilize the joints in your back on a periodic basis, they are more able to take up the stress of the game and you will stay feeling better, longer.
So what can YOU do about this issue? You have a few options. You can gobble up 2 Advil each time you play or you can see your chiropractor. Any chiropractor can help you with your low back pain. The ideal solution is to visit a chiropractor who is trained to examine your golf posture and swing and eliminate your low back pain. In my office, I try to not only address the player’s pain but also address the part of the game that is causing that pain – so the pain does not come back.
Are you ready to lube up those hinges? If so, make an appointment with me. I can’t guarantee you’ll shoot par, but I can promise to do my best to get you feeling better!
-Dr. Craig