Low Back Pain While Golfing
Back pain is one of the top reasons golfers stop playing. It can be very frustrating not to complete the front nine without pain or have to stop and rest. If you love golf, you owe it to yourself to start treating and rehabbing your back pain today so you can perform your best on the course.
Top 2 Reasons For Back Pain While Golfing
Dr. Trevor Tipton is the only TPI Certified Golf Medical Provider in Southern Utah. As a golf medical provider, he has the tools to get you out of pain and back on the course.
Here are the top 2 reasons for back pain while playing golf that he sees at Crux in St. George, Utah.
• Facet Syndrome
• Disc Herniation
FACET SYNDROME
About Facet Syndrome
Facet Syndrome is the cause of pain in 15-45% of patients with chronic low back pain. The facet joints in the low back are meant to limit rotation and decrease forward slipping or displacement. This injury occurs by repetitive stress cumulated over time, leading to irritation of the joints. Facet irritation can create localized low back pain that often gets worse when bending backward. However, every case is a little different.
Facet Syndrome and Back Pain While Golfing
Golf is a rotational sport. Although rotation at the facets is OK to some degree, they are still not meant to move too much. The low back is supposed to work primarily as a stable structure during the golf swing. Most of the rotation during a golf swing should come from the hips or the midback (thoracic region).
The core is essential when it comes to preventing facet syndrome and irritating low back pain. For instance, your core works to limit these facets from smashing into each other over and over again during your swing. If you demonstrate weakness in your core or possess limited rotation in your hips or midback, you will continue to have facet pain until these issues are addressed.
Our Approach To Facet Syndrome While Golfing
Our Facet Syndrome rehab focuses on improving the core’s function and increasing your hip and midback mobility. We focus on working on the core to prevent both excessive extension and rotation of the low back, leading to less irritation of the joints. Furthermore, we focus on increasing the mobility of the hips and midback. Increasing rotation in these primary areas, leads to a more powerful swing and increased distance.
Disc Herniation
- Pain with bending forward?
- Worse in the morning and at night?
- Can’t bend over to pick up your ball?
About Disc Herniations
Almost 35-45% of adults will experience a disc herniation at some point in their lifetime. Disc Herniations are more common in men than in women. A disc has two primary components: a nucleus and an annulus. The nucleus is a ball of jelly about the size of a marble, while the annulus is a tough band that surrounds the “jelly” to keep it from coming out.
A disc herniation is when the annulus section of your disc has become torn, and the “jelly” begins to come out and can cause compression on the nerves that live right behind the discs.
Disc Herniations and Golfing
The primary cause of a disc herniation is rotation combined with forward bending in the low back. Because golf is a rotational sport, disc injuries tend to occur often. They occur more commonly when the golfer demonstrates low core strength and limited hip mobility, leading to excess rotation of the low back.
Our Disc Herniations Approach
Our St. George chiropractor will take you through a thorough examination to figure out what movement will help relieve your pain. We focus on stabilizing the core to prevent any movement that causes pain, primarily excessive rotation and flexion of the low back. Then we focus on creating good rotation of the hips and midback to help you perform better on the course and leave your back pain behind.
Your Visit With US
We start every visit with a comprehensive movement based assessment to identify any critical contributors to your pain. Then we combine muscle release techniques with chiropractic adjustments to help relax your tight muscles and allow your body to move better and feel better. Then, most patients are brought to our rehab area, where we teach you how to extend your session’s benefits at home through stretches and exercises based on your needs and goals.
Visit Crux Sport & Spine today!