.jpg)
Low back pain is one of the most common complaints among golfers. It may appear during the backswing, at impact, through the follow-through, or later that evening after finishing a round.
While the pain is felt in the lower back, the lower back is not always the only area contributing to the problem. In many golfers, it becomes the “victim” because other parts of the body are not moving, coordinating, or tolerating load effectively.
The golf swing requires rotation, side bending, extension, speed, and force—all within a fraction of a second. Your body must also transfer force from the ground, through the hips and trunk, and into the club.
The lumbar spine is capable of movement, but it is not designed to create all of the rotation needed during the swing. When the hips or upper back are not contributing enough, the lower back may compensate.
Research has associated golf-related low back pain with factors involving hip mobility and strength, trunk endurance, muscle activation, and the coordination of the pelvis and trunk during the swing. A review of golf-related low back pain also emphasizes that there is rarely one single cause.
Both hips must rotate during the golf swing. The trail hip needs to accept rotation during the backswing, while the lead hip must rotate as the golfer moves through impact and into the finish.
If either hip is restricted, the lower back may be forced to create additional movement.
Limited lead-hip internal rotation has specifically been discussed as a potentially modifiable factor in golfers with low back pain. However, improving hip mobility should be based on an individual assessment rather than assuming every golfer needs the same stretch.
Your thoracic spine—or upper and middle back—should contribute a meaningful amount of rotation during the swing.
When thoracic rotation is limited, a golfer may compensate by rotating or extending excessively through the lower back. This can become especially noticeable near the top of the backswing or during the follow-through.
A good golf swing requires the pelvis and trunk to move together at certain points and separate at others. If a golfer cannot control that separation, the body may borrow motion from the lower back.
This is why simply stretching the painful area does not always solve the problem. The golfer may need to improve movement coordination and learn how to rotate through the hips and upper back while maintaining better control of the lumbar spine.
Mobility is only one part of the equation. A golfer also needs enough strength and endurance to repeatedly control the forces created during practice and play.
The trunk, glutes, and hips help stabilize the body and transfer force through the swing. If those areas fatigue quickly, the golfer may begin compensating as the round continues.
This may explain why some golfers feel comfortable on the first few holes but develop pain on the back nine.
Pain may also develop when the demands of golf exceed the body’s current capacity. Common examples include:
Even a technically sound swing can become painful if the body has not been prepared for the amount of repetition and force being placed on it.
Not necessarily.
Some golfers benefit from temporarily reducing the number of holes they play, limiting the number of range balls they hit, or avoiding the specific swing that aggravates their symptoms. Others can continue playing while addressing the movement or strength limitation contributing to the pain.
The right decision depends on your symptoms, how they respond during and after golf, and whether there are signs of a more significant injury.
Pain accompanied by progressive leg weakness, significant numbness, changes in bowel or bladder control, saddle-area numbness, fever, unexplained weight loss, or major trauma should receive prompt medical evaluation.
At Highland Spine + Sport, we do not evaluate the lower back in isolation. A golf-specific assessment may include:
As a Titleist Performance Institute Level 1 provider, Dr. Amos can evaluate how physical limitations may be affecting both your symptoms and your ability to move through the swing.
Treatment is customized to the individual and may include chiropractic manipulation, soft-tissue treatment, mobility work, progressive strengthening, and golf-specific movement drills.
The goal is not simply to provide temporary relief. It is to identify what your body needs so you can return to the course with greater confidence and a plan to manage the problem.
If low back pain is limiting your golf swing, shortening your rounds, or making you hesitant to practice, it may be time to look beyond the painful area.
Highland Spine + Sport provides one-on-one, movement-focused care for golfers and active adults in Roanoke, Virginia.
Schedule an initial assessment or a free 15-minute discovery call to learn how we can help you feel better, move better, and enjoy the game again.
Book online: https://highlandspine.janeapp.com/