Golf and Back Pain: Why the Lower Back Suffers and What Helps

Back pain is the most common injury in golf, not an obscure one. Studies estimate that somewhere between 15 and 35 percent of amateur golfers deal with low back pain, with professional golfers reporting it at even higher rates, and a recent survey of more than 1,100 amateur golfers found that more than a third had experienced it in the previous seven days.

The reasons are built into the swing. A golf swing is a fast, repeated, one-sided rotation that loads the spine thousands of times over a season. When the rotation and side-bend happen too much in the lower back, while the hips and mid-back contribute too little, the spine takes the brunt. Surveys of golfers with lower back injuries point to swing mechanics as the cause in nearly half of cases, with overuse a close second.

What helps? Start with a real warm-up. Begin with wedges and short irons and build up to the driver, rather than stepping to the first tee cold. Strengthening the core and improving hip and mid-back mobility spread the rotation across the body where it belongs, instead of concentrating it in the lower back.

Swing changes matter too. A shorter, controlled backswing, less over-rotation and a stable trunk while the legs do the work can take meaningful load off the spine. Clubs that fit your body and swing reduce awkward positions. And time off the course counts: long stretches in a cart between swings stiffen the same segments the swing needs.

When back pain does show up, sports-medicine experts, including the American Chiropractic Association, generally recommend conservative, non-surgical care first, before injections or surgery. An evaluation that looks at how your spine, hips and mid-back actually move can identify the imbalances feeding the pain, which is exactly the kind of assessment a chiropractor does.

Dr. Gregory Martin has worked with active adults and athletes for decades, including as the official chiropractor of Parisi's Speed School of Morris Plains, and he sees golfers regularly at his offices. Back trouble on the course is common, but it is not something you have to simply play through. He sees patients at Gregory Martin Chiropractic at 283 Sparta Avenue in Sparta and at Speedwell Family Chiropractic at 520 Speedwell Avenue in Morris Plains. Call or text (973) 699-4100 to book an evaluation.