There are not many things better than enjoying the warmer weather by hitting the links. Whether you are an avid golfer, beginner, or just looking to hit up the driving range; golfing is a great way to get and stay active during your free time. Much like an activity, there is always the chance of developing general soreness or aches afterward. Swinging a golf club is an unnatural act and are can be devastating on your body especially on your back. Some back injuries that can cause from golf swings are muscle strains, disc injuries, altered joint mechanics, and even as severe as bone fractures and degenerative arthritis.
The last thing you want is to develop an injury while doing an activity you love. Here are some simple tips to avoid stress and pain in your back when golfing.
Warming Up
You wouldn’t roll out of bed at 6am and start running a marathon at 6:30 am. The Same logic applies for golfing. Properly warming up and stretching your body, in particular, your back, is key to avoiding injuries during your venture to the golf course. Make sure your stretches focus on loosening the muscles in your back as well as your hips and hamstrings.
Practice Makes Perfect
Practicing your golf swing helps train your body to continually use proper mechanics when you swing. Like I said earlier, swinging a golf club is an unnatural act and puts a lot of torque on your back. The more you swing the more used your body becomes to the force being put on it. Also, when practicing your swing make sure to use proper balance and placement of your waste. These are few minor things that you can do before you ever tee off to decrease the chance of injury.
Posture Matters
Similar to using proper posture when typing on your computer at work, it is important to have proper golf posture. Using proper posture when playing golf a great way to avoid developing any injuries in your lower back. This includes maintaining a neutral spine to stabilize your lumbar region. To put it more plainly, avoid excessively extending your back during your backswing. Also, make sure when you are swinging with a level pelvis. Doing so will ease any stress that can occur on your hips during your swings.
If you do begin to develop lower back pain from trip to the golf course contact us and we can help provide you with the right treatment and exercises to ensure you are back on the links in no time.