Back injury from playing golf

After a lumbar back injury, how can you quickly get back on the golf course?

Golf is becoming a very popular sport, since 2016 it is enjoying a significant increase and already more than five and a half million additional golfers are playing the sport. The sport is especially popular during the summer months. But like all sports, it has its downside, injuries. And one of the most common injuries is the lumbar back injury.  If you are a regular golfer and suffer this injury, it can ruin your game, leaving you unable to enjoy a round on the weekend with your family and friends.

As with any sport or hobby, injuries can occur and tend to occur more frequently in older people. Among our golfing clients, back injuries are probably the second most common golf injury. This injury can spoil your enjoyment of playing golf, or avoid you from playing altogether.

Why do these injuries occur?

At first glance, golf may appear to be a “simple, gentle and unaggressive” sport. But we cannot forget that there are many factors that can influence and we can suffer injuries; lumbar, shoulder, elbow, hip injuries… And all this can be due to the long distances that are done during the 18 holes, the vibrations that are transmitted along the whole arm when, for example, the putter (golf club) hits the ground, or the bad posture when catching the ball or carrying the bag of clubs. Without forgetting the swing, the main cause of low back pain and its frequency.

During a round of golf, and depending on your skill level, this action can be performed more than 50 times. And this can ultimately lead to inflammation, swelling and pain.

How can you avoid back injuries in golf?

First of all, and as in any other sport apart from golf, it is very important to warm up and stretch all the muscles that are going to be used to practice the sport. In this way, you will reduce the risk of injury or, if you already have one, the risk of it getting worse.

In addition, it is also a good idea to gradually increase the number of golf games after a period of inactivity, instead of jumping straight into playing 18 holes three times a week after months without playing.

How can these back injuries be treated?

Back injuries in golf are usually caused by excessive play, bad posture or lack of warm-up and stretching. So, prevention is the best cure. The first symptoms of golf back injuries are discomfort, swelling or weakness. Treating the problem at this point will ensure a quick return to the golf course.

On the other hand, if you have a trauma-related golf injury, it is also important to warm up and stretch. In addition, here are some tips to help you alleviate the discomfort:

First of all, if you feel pain, we advise you to stop whatever you are doing to prevent the affected area from getting worse. If you play in pain, you can turn a mild sprain into a more serious injury that will force you to spend all the summer recovering, rather than on the golf course.

Secondly, a fantastic way to reduce back pain quickly without medication is to alternate ice and heat packs. Generally, 15-20 minutes of ice or heat applied to the area several times a day is recommended, allowing the skin to return to normal temperature before reapplying.

Booking a date with us can be a very effective way to relieve your aches and pains and speed recovery by increasing blood flow to the area, improving circulation, reducing swelling and relieving pain and stiffness. This means you’ll be back on the golf course sooner.

How to alleviate a pain that we have had for some time?

Some back injuries require the attention of a professional, such as our physiotherapists, due to the severity of the problem.

If you have more questions, back pain or still do not know how to avoid low back pain I encourage you to stop by our Nordicfysio clinic in Punta Prima or contact us and we will see what the cause is and how we can solve it.