Golf Technique and Lower Back Pain


A 2007 study published in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine described the playing characteristics of golfers who had an injury to their lower back during play or practice in the previous 12 months. The study used a survey mailed to members of randomly selected golf clubs throughout Australia.
 
Of the 1634 Australian amateur golfers that responded, 17.6% sustained at least one injury in the previous year. Lower back injury accounted for 25% of all golf-related injuries in the previous year, making the lower back injury the most common form of injury reported. The study noted that this is consistent with other research showing lower back injury to be the most prevalent form of injury for golfers(1). 84% of golfers with lower back injury sought treatment for the injury. The survey also found that:
 
  • Golfers with a golf-related injury to the lower back was likely to have had previous lower back injury;
  • The injury usually had a progressive onset, rather than an acute single onset; and
  • The follow-through phase of the golf swing was associated with the greatest chance of injury compared to other parts of the swing.
The survey concluded that practitioners treating golfers with a history of lower back pain should also consider the golf swing follow through to identify potential causes of aggravation to the lower back
 
Other commentators have noted that the golf swing has evolved from a rhythmic flowing movement to one that generates increased power by using a larger shoulder turn and less hip turn. This modern swing technique, based on a tightly coiled body, enables maximum club-head acceleration, but at the cost of increased torque in the back. It leaves the back vulnerable at the top of the back-swing and during hyperextension in down-swing and follow-through.
 
In a comparative study of amateurs and professionals, the amateur players generated approximately 80% greater peak lateral bending and shear loads, and 50% more torque than the pros; and generated 90% of their peak muscle activity during a golf swing, against the professionals’ 80%. These inferior swing mechanics may predispose amateur players to muscle strains, facet disease or herniated discs in the spine.