Back Pain in Golfers: Expert Treatment Guide for Golf-Related Spine Issues
Golf is often perceived as a gentle, low-impact sport, but ask any dedicated golfer about back pain and you’ll likely hear a different story. The repetitive, rotational movements required in a golf swing place significant stress on the spine, making back pain one of the most common complaints among golfers of all skill levels.
At Cornwall Physio, back pain in golfers represents one of the most common issues we treat in our clinic. Week after week, we welcome golfers of all abilities who are struggling with spine-related pain that’s affecting both their game and quality of life.
This prevalence isn’t surprising when you consider the biomechanical demands of the sport—a single round of golf can involve 70-100 powerful rotational movements that place considerable stress on the spine, often performed with little warm-up and preparation.
Our team has developed specialised expertise in addressing these golf-specific back issues, understanding that getting you back on the course pain-free requires more than just generic back pain treatment. Let’s explore why golfers experience back pain, how it manifests, and most importantly, how our Heal-Move-Perform methodology can help you get back to enjoying your game.
The Mechanics Behind Golfer's Back Pain
The golf swing is a complex movement that creates substantial rotational forces through the spine. During a typical swing, the spine experiences:
Rapid rotation and counter-rotation
Lateral bending
Compression forces
Shear forces on intervertebral discs and facet joints
These biomechanical stresses, repeated hundreds of times during practice and play, can lead to various back issues. Research shows that the follow-through phase creates significant lumbar extension and contralateral rotation, which are key contributors to pain in many golfers.
Common back Injuries in golfers
Facet Joint Pain
The facet joints in your spine help guide and limit movement. The rotational forces in a golf swing can irritate these joints, causing inflammation and pain. This is particularly common in the lumbar spine (lower back) and is often experienced as a one-sided pain that worsens with certain movements or positions.
Muscle Strains
The powerful rotation required in golf can overwork the muscles surrounding the spine, particularly if you haven’t warmed up properly or have poor swing mechanics. These strains typically cause a dull ache on one side of the lower back.
Disc Issues
The twisting motion combined with forward bending can place pressure on the intervertebral discs and ‘nerve roots’, which can cause pain that radiates into the hip, thigh, or leg if nerve roots become compressed.
Exacerbated Arthritis
For golfers with pre-existing spinal arthritis, the repetitive movements can aggravate symptoms, leading to increased pain and stiffness that may persist long after the round is finished.
The Cornwall Physio Approach: Heal-Move-Perform
At Cornwall Physio, we’ve developed our unique Heal-Move-Perform methodology to address golf-related back pain comprehensively. This three-phase approach ensures not only pain relief but also long-term prevention and performance enhancement.
Phase 1: Heal
The first priority is reducing pain and inflammation. For golfers with back pain, we employ several advanced techniques:
Focused Shockwave Therapy for Golf Back Pain: This non-invasive treatment has proven particularly effective for facet joint pain in golfers. By delivering acoustic waves to the affected area, shockwave therapy stimulates healing, increases blood flow, and reduces pain. Many of our golfing clients report significant relief within their first few sessions.
EMTT (Extracorporeal Magnetotransduction Therapy) for Golfers: This cutting-edge technology is incredibly effective at settling pain flare-ups in golfers. EMTT uses high-energy magnetic pulses to penetrate deep into tissues, reducing inflammation and accelerating healing at the cellular level. It’s particularly beneficial for those acute episodes when your back “locks up” after a round.
Hands-on Manual Therapy for Golf-Related Back Pain: Our specialist Physio’s use targeted manual techniques to restore proper joint mobility, release tight muscles, and reduce nerve irritation.
Dry needling and soft tissue release: Great for relaxing tight muscles and improving mobility.
Phase 2: Move
Once pain is under control, we focus on restoring proper movement patterns:
Golf-Specific Movement Assessment: We analyse how your shoulders, back and hips move, to identify restrictions that may be contributing to your back pain.
Targeted Mobility Work for Golfers: Customised exercises to improve rotation through the thoracic spine (mid-back) and hips, can reduce stress on the lumbar spine during your swing.
Core Stability Training for Golf Performance: A strong, stable core provides essential support to the spine during the golf swing. We focus on deep stabilising muscles rather than just surface muscles.
Phase 3: Perform
The final phase focuses on optimising your golf performance while protecting your back:
Golf-Specific Strength Training: Building power and endurance in the right muscle groups can improve your swing while reducing strain on your back.
Swing Modification Guidance: Small adjustments to your swing technique can significantly reduce spinal stress without sacrificing distance or accuracy.
Preventative Strategies for Golfers: We’ll equip you with warm-up routines and maintenance exercises specifically designed for golfers.
Maintenance Physio treatments: Many of our Golfers come to see us for maintenance Physio treatment, to prevent back pain flare-ups and keep them playing at their best.
prevention tips for golfers with back pain
- Proper Warm-Up for Golf: Spend at least 10 minutes performing dynamic stretches and mobility exercises before playing.
- Core Strengthening for Golfers: Focus on exercises that build rotational stability and control.
- Maintain Proper Posture in Golf: Keep your spine in a neutral position during your setup, with a slight bend at the hips rather than the waist.
- Listen to Your Body: Don’t play through significant pain – this often leads to compensatory movements that can cause additional problems.
we can help with your golf back pain...
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s a great time to come to see one of our back pain specialists at Cornwall Physio:
- Recurring back pain that interferes with your golf game
- Back pain that persists more than a few days after golfing
- Pain that radiates into your buttocks or legs
- Numbness or tingling in your legs
Concusion: Effective Treatment for Golf-Related Back Pain
Golf and back pain don’t have to go hand in hand. With the right approach to treatment and prevention, you can continue enjoying your Golf for years to come. Don’t let back pain keep you off the course. Contact Cornwall Physio today to schedule an assessment with our team of specialists who understand the unique demands golf places on your body.
