1. Injuries? In golf?
Golf may seem like a low-impact, low-risk sport, yet golfers are still susceptible to various injuries. These injuries can be either cumulative (overuse) or acute (traumatic) injuries. One recent study showed that during a 2-year period, 60 percent of golf professionals and 40 percent of amateurs suffered some sort of injury, and 80 percent of those injuries were due to overuse. The lower back is the most commonly injured area among golfers. Elbow, shoulder, wrist and hand injuries can also occur. Golf bags with double straps help distribute the weight more evenly. Carrying your own bag may double the risk of back, shoulder and ankle injuries, so be sure to tip that caddy!
2. Back injuries
Lower back injuries can be a result of the powerful rotation and extension involved in the golf swing. Some professional golfers can generate club head speeds of over 120 mph with their swings. A low back sprain can occur when this sudden, forceful movement injures a ligament interconnecting the five lumbar vertebral bones. Some studies suggest that increasing lumbar spine extension and lead hip rotation (left hip for right-handed golfers) may decrease the risk of lower back pain.
Another source of back pain is a herniated disk, or weakening of the disk wall. Jelly-like material may push out and press on a nerve.
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