Many golfers have asked me over the years if golf is bad for their back. This is a difficult question to answer. After all, golf is exercise and exercise is typically good for you right? It all depends on the structures we are utilizing to make the golf swing. Have you ever had an injury that didn’t heal correctly or do you have underlying joint degeneration that could be aggravated by your golf swing? Do you swing the golf club properly? What kind of shape are you in and do you prepare and strengthen your body to be able to perform a golf swing etc.
As an Upper Cervical Specialist it is my job to make sure that there is not undue pressure on the brainstem and spinal cord. If someone is having pressure on their spinal cord they will not be able to move or function appropriately. This can lead to health problems as well as movement restrictions because the innate intelligence inside the body will guard against any movement that may compromise the neural integrity. We call the Brain and Spinal cord the body’s “information super highway”. If there is a problem with pressure in this area your body will not be able to move appropriately.
In our office, when we eliminate spinal cord pressure, we often see improved ranges of motion and less restriction or pain in problem areas. The procedures we use are painless and don’t require any twisting or popping to make a correction.
Below you will see a before and after xray of a recent patient’s neck. The neck is supposed to have a natural curve in it to allow for dynamic motion and function. This patient went from having a reversed cervical curve (head forward posture) to a more natural curve.
So to answer the original question: Is golf bad for my back? If the person on the left were to swing a club properly they would probably aggravate the muscles, nerves and joints in their neck and back. If the person on the right were to make the same swing there would be much less stress on their neck and back. Problems like this go undetected very often until it gets bad enough to stop someone from swinging a golf club. It is a good idea to get your spine checked by an upper cervical doctor so you know if your swing is hurting you or not.