Golfers Guide to Back Pain

Golf is hard enough without dealing with back pain and sciatica. If you are experiencing lower back pain or sciatic nerve pains it is probably affecting your golf game. That is if you are able to play at all. If you are looking for a few simple ways to reduce back pain, read this article below and you will soon be back in the game.

Is Your Golf Swing Causing Your Back Pain?

Playing golf involves several movements that can often make you feel pain; bending over to pick up the ball, rotating your back to swing, and the impact you feel when the club hits the ground. What, I’m the only one that mis-hits a ball every once and a while?

It’s important to remember that it is usually not these motions that are causing the pain. Although, the motion of swinging a club is a little unnatural and it requires a bit of strength and flexibility. Plus, if you golf almost daily (or professionally) there is a chance that the motions of playing golf are leading to the pain.

Usually, for the average golfer there is an underlying issue that is causing the pain, and it should be their goal to figure out what that is and then treat it. Some of the most common causes of back pain for golfers are; muscle imbalances in the body, weak lower back and abs, carrying extra weight.

Some of the most common symptoms faced by golfers are; lower back pain, back spasms, herniated disc pain, sciatic, upper back and neck pain.

Let’s face it, not all of us golfers are fit like Tiger Woods. In fact a bunch of golfers more closely resemble the physique of John Daly. Carrying extra weight tends to lead to poor posture and often forces the pelvis to tilt forward, leading to low back pain, and sciatic nerve pains. You would be surprised by how much better you feel when you add a consistent stretching and workout routine into your game.

Most Common Cause of Back Pain for Golfers

So, what are muscle imbalances? In a nutshell, most people that do not exercise and stretch regularly, have certain muscles that are too tight, causing the body to be out of alignment. Tight muscles in either the front or back of the legs can cause uneven pressure on the spine and will eventually lead to back pain. Click on this link to learn more about muscle imbalances and stretches for back pain.

You may have seen generic exercises on other golf sites that are supposed to help with back pain. Keep in mind that you and one of your other golf buddies may both have back pain, but one exercise that works for him may not work for you. You will want to identify which specific stretches or exercises are right for you.

By eliminating the real cause of your back pain, you can treat it effectively and get the power back in to your drive. If you are experiencing general soreness after playing a round of golf you can try natural topical pain creams that will give you at least temporary pain relief.

Do not ignore your back pain symptoms. It is your body’s way of telling you.. “Hey, time to start paying a little more attention to me”.

Back pain is one of the most common injuries amongst golfers. Even pro golfers get sidelined with back spasms and chronic low back pains.

Don’t let it keep you away from the game that you love.