Eight out of ten people in the United States will experience at least one episode of low back pain throughout their lifetime. Golfers are no exception. In fact, over sixty percent of golfers will experience an injury directly related to the sport. Some golfers will suffer from severe, acute episodes of low back pain, while others will suffer from constant, unrelenting symptoms. The total expenses related to this epidemic alone exceeds fifty billion dollars per year.

Low back pain is the second leading reason why people visit the doctor. However, if golfers adopt a lifestyle of healthy habits, including, but not limited to a safe stretching program, aerobic exercise, resistance training and proper nutrition, they may be well inclined to avert such a fate.

When a golfer swings a club, the lower back is subjected to quick, complex and intense loading patterns. The low back endures a variety of forces placed upon it. These forces are a result of shearing, bending and compression, to name just a few. At its peak, compression forces during a single golf swing can generate a load more than eight times the body weight of the golfer. This is significant when compared to a runner, who generates only four times their body weight during running. With a statistical estimation that there are over twenty-five million golfers, these facts can have far reaching effects.

The most common cause of injury to golfers, both amateur and professional, is repetitive practice. For amateurs, the second most common cause of injury is poor biomechanics while swinging. Poor mechanics allows for too much torque to occur around the lumbar spine. A key to reducing injury to the low back is to reduce torque applied to the low back. In golf, although it is recommended to “torque” the upper body, attempts should be made to reduce it when possible. This can be accomplished by absorbing more of the rotation in the hips, shoulders and knees. Another key to reducing injuries to the low back involves a regular, safe stretching program. This helps to keep the connective tissues around the spine conditioned. It is also recommended to engage in a regular exercise routine combining aerobic training with weight training. A crucial area of interest that most golfers know little about is proper nutrition. Proper nutrition is essential to maintaining healthy connective tissues and muscle. Injury to connective tissues can be aided by nutritional intervention starting by a well balanced diet including low glycemic carbohydrates, high quality proteins and essential fats. Nutritional supplements are extremely therapeutic where the diet falls short.

There can be various causative factors involved in the production of low back pain. Causes of low back pain can be biomechanical or systemic. Low back pain should always be evaluated by a doctor, so that patients receive an appropriate diagnosis. Systemic causes should always be ruled out so adequate treatment can effectively be rendered to the golfer. A regimen of stretching, exercise and proper nutrition should be a part of the daily life of any golfer, in order to prevent injuries, as well as, recover more quickly and fully in the event of an injury.

Louis S. Pastis, D.C. is in private practice in South Pasadena, California. He earned his Bachelor's of Science degree in Nutrition from the University of Arizona and his Chiropractic degree from the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic. He can be reached at www.drpastis.com.