Swinging a golf club uses more muscles than many golfers may have ever stopped to consider. While it's a great workout for your back, this isn't necessarily a good thing for those with back problems. Like many sports, golf can cause pain and strain in the lower back. In some extreme cases, golf-related back problems may even lead to surgery.
Warming Up
Back surgery is not a given when it comes to the sport of golf. Unlike many other sports, golf doesn't involve the rough-and-tumble play that so often leads to injury. Golf-related back problems can be avoided. Spine Health recommends stretching the hips and lower back before playing to lessen the chances of you injuring yourself during play.
Hold your golf club behind your neck and shoulders, and swing from right to left to stretch your torso, chest and shoulders. To stretch your hamstrings, bend down and touch your toes. Hug your knees to your chest to stretch your lower back and hips. If your muscles are warm and loose, there is less of a chance of becoming injured while playing.
Carrying Golf Bag
Golf bags are heavy. The more avid a golfer you are, the more clubs you are bound to carry. The more clubs you are carrying, the heavier your golf bag is bound to be. The heavier your golf bag is, the more likely you are to injure yourself carrying it around and picking it up. Invest in a golf stand that opens up when you set your bag down.
These bags can be purchased at any sporting goods store, and they can eliminate the need to bend over and pick your bag up repeatedly throughout the day. Spine Health also suggests investing in a bag with two straps so that the weight of your bag is more evenly distributed across your body. This can lessen the strain you put on your back with the weight of your golf bag.
Types of Surgery
According to Mark R. McLaughlin, M.D. of Princeton Brain and Spine, two main types of back surgery that are performed on golfers with back problems. Discectomy and lumbar fusion operations are the two primary operations used to correct the lower lumbar conditions that are so often associated with golf-related back problems.
Returning to Golf
The need for back surgery doesn't have to precede your departure from the sport you love. McLaughlin reports that many people successfully return to golf after back surgery. The time needed for recovery depends on the type of operation, the severity of the injury and overall recovery ability. Recovery time varies from person to person. Talk to your doctor before getting back into golf after surgery and stop playing in the event that you feel any pain.
