A significant percentage of golfers suffer from chronic back pain. Many golfers pop aspirin and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs like candy. What about chiropractic care? Surprisingly, available data from 1994 suggests that less than two percent of golfers chose to visit a chiropractor.¹ The same source revealed that MDs and PTs treat most golfers. This information is somewhat shocking considering that back pain is the most common problem among golfers and recent studies show the the most effective care for back pain is chiropractic.

Why golf has seemingly overlooked chiropractic is unclear. Considering that golfers suffer mainly with spinal nociceptive pain, i.e., mechanical back pain, one would think that DCs would be the caretakers of choice. This article will discuss some of the basic mechanics of the golf swing and suggest some ways that chiropractic can help golfers overcome some of their physical problems thus improving their scores.

Swing Myths that Promote Injury

One of the biggest myths about the golf swing involves the notion that club head speed at ball impact is dependent on maximum spinal rotation during the backswing. In this regard, the term "x-factor" has been coined to describe the difference (in degrees) between hip position and shoulder position at the top of the backswing. Many instructors advocate this theory and recommend that golfers keep their pelvis as stationary as possible while the spine is maximally rotated. These swing positions are popular because it is believed that maximal spinal rotation somehow engages the "big" muscles of the back, allowing for a sling-shot effect during the downswing, i.e., the modern golf theory of power generation.

With respect to the "big muscle" theory, we are never told how maximal spinal rotation helps to engage spinal muscles or muscles such as the latissimus dorsi. Nonetheless, it is difficult to understand why modern golf instruction would promote such concepts. Regarding spinal muscles, it is known that they provide only five percent of the torque generated during spinal rotation, the abdominal obliques doing nearly all the work.³

Like the spinal muscles, the latissimus dorsi have nothing to do with generating spinal rotation. Nor is maximal spinal rotation necessary for the latissimus dorsi to perform its normal function, i.e., adduction, medial rotation and extension of the humerus.⁴

The true source of power generation in the golf swing involves the creation of elastic energy, which is thought to be the power generator for most athletic maneuvers.² Briefly stated, elastic energy is created by imparting a short, quick stretch on the muscles involved in performing a particular movement. In the case of the golf swing, it is generally thought that the rotator cuff, latissimus dorsi and pectoralis major muscles are the "power muscles,"² as well as the muscles of the arm and forearm. To effectively pre-stretch these muscles, no spinal rotation is needed.

The only purpose for pelvic and spinal rotation in the backswing is to achieve a body position that allows for effective club head delivery at ball impact. There are three main reasons to urge you to adopt a short backswing that reduces spinal rotation: 

       3. A short backswing will help to minimize the torsional stress in the lumbar              spine, thus limiting the negative effects of golf on the body. (i.e. lower back         pain)

Golfers should keep their shoulders and pelvis parallel to each other throughout the majority of the golf swing.  This is called rigid parallelization, the loss of which can generate rotational strain in the lumbar spine.⁵ With this information in mind, you can imagine how stressful and injurious the golf swing can be when golfers try to achieve a large x-factor. This swing method is dangerous and should be abandoned.

Chiropractic Intervention

There are several avenues of care that chiropractors can offer golfers, including spinal adjustments, preventive swing advice, rehabilitation exercises and anti-inflammatory nutrition. As most DCs know, spinal adjustments are known to be effective in reducing pain, improving spinal mobility and overall health. While the adjustment provides these beneficial outcomes, it is important to realize that adjustments cannot prevent injury when there is maximal stress on the spine. For this reason, DCs need to urge their golfing patients to reduce spinal rotation during the swing to lessen the chance of torsional injury. Golfers should be urged to adopt the principle of rigid parallelization throughout the golf swing, which requires rigid abdominal control.⁵

As previously alluded to, an aggressive lumbar spine rehabilitation program should be instituted as both a therapeutic and preventive measure. The golf swing is inherently stressful and injurious to the lumbar spine. Thus, it is very important to make sure the lumbar spine's stabilization mechanism is well- trained. Treating golfers without taking this into consideration can lead to re-injury and dependence on passive care. Research has recently demonstrated that lumbar stabilization exercises can reduce pain and disability in patients with spinal instability caused by spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis.⁶ McGill has recently discussed the stabilizing exercises that impart the least amount of stress on the lumbar spine, which included the cat stretch, curl-ups, isometric horizontal side support, and the quadruped track of exercises.⁷ These exercises will also help golfers develop the rigid abdominal control needed to maintain pelvis and shoulder parallelization during the swing to reduce torsional strain.

Nutritional factors should also be considered when treating golfers. As mentioned earlier, golfers commonly self-medicate with aspirin and NSAIDs to help deal with inflammation and pain. These medications are known to cause gastrointestinal ulceration and reduce connective tissue healing (this is the healing process your body goes through after a golf injury, this slows recovery and causes permanent damage to the tissues). It would be wise for golfers to adopt a diet that is rich in dark green and other colorful vegetables, which are known to be sources of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids, bioflavonoids and other phyto-chemicals. Supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids, flavonoids, ginger, turmeric, Boswellia and bromelain can add additional anti-inflammatory support,⁸ while supplemental glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are useful for enhancing the repair of connective tissues.^8,9

Very few golfers hit the fairways armed with the modest amount of information presented in this article. Please take note and if you have any further questions or would like to schedule a time to get evaluated in our office, please feel free to call and schedule an appointment today. 

Very few golfers hit the fairways armed with the modest amount of information presented in this article. Please take note and if you have any further questions or would like to schedule a time to get evaluated in our office, please feel free to call and schedule an appointment today. 

References

1. McCarroll JR, Mallon WJ. Epidemiology of golf injuries. In: Stover CN, et al. eds. Feeling up to Par: Medicine from Tee to Green. Philadelphia: FA Davis; 1994: p.9-13.

2. Seaman DS. Back pain in golfers: etiology and prevention. J Sports Chiro Rehab 1998; 12(2):45-54.

3. Macintosh JE, Bogduk N. The axial torque of the lumbar back muscles: torsion strength of the back muscles. Aust N A J Surg 1993; 63(3):205-12.

4. Cramer GD, Darby SA. Basic and Clinical Anatomy of the Spine, Spinal Cord and ANS. St Louis: Mosby; 1995: p.73.

5. Watkins RG. Lumbar spine injury in the athlete. In: Liebenson C (ed.) Rehabilitation of the Spine. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins; 1996, p.341-54.

6. O'Sullivan PB et al. Evaluation of specific stabilizing exercise in the treatment of chronic low back pain with radiologic evidence of spondylolysis or spondylolisthesis.Spine 1997; 22:23959-67.

7. McGill SM. Low back exercises: evidence for improving exercise regimens. Phys Ther199; 78:754-65.

8. Seaman DR. Clinical nutrition for pain, inflammation, and tissue healing. Hendersonville, NC: NutrAnalysis, 1998. 

9. Bucci LR. Nutrition Applied to Injury Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 1995.