Injuries

I've been golfing for about 3 years now. In the last year I developed a really bad problem with my upper and lower back due to age and lack of warm-up.

I've had really bad muscle spasms that caused my left ribs to become locked up in a position that made it difficult for me to turn left/right. It hurts when I breathe too deep. Each time I visit the physiotherapist he would have to unlock my ribs by popping them. He would then administer a deep muscle massage which really hurts.

Since the regular treatments, I feel much better but at times when I try to really "swing" at the ball, particularly with my driver, my spasms return and cause my ribs to lock up again.

My physiotherapist told me this is quite a common problem with golfers. Have any of you experienced this type of injury?

I have strained my back several times

Interesting to hear about your ribs being locked up and needing to be "popped". Sounds painful. Last summer I had a rib injury that was caused by overuse. I had cracked two ribs on my right side (I'm right handed). After allowing them to heal, I embarked on a religious stretching and abdominal workout routine. I have considerably strengthened and have increased my flexibility - rsult, I keep gaining yardages! Keep the faith - stretch & strengthen. Good luck!

Stretching and strenghtening is obviously great advice. However, I can't help thinking that there might be a problem in the golf swing contributing to it. Perhaps a lesson from a really good pro might help as well. I'm only guessing of course, you may have a perfect swing!

Definitely no perfect swing here! Part of the problem was that I was trying to hard. I had just started the game and fell into the trap of to hit it far you need to hit it hard - wrong. I was just beating myself up at the range.

Hi Big Sheesh,

I don't want to disagree with the so called "Professionals" on the human body and the affects the golf swing has on it, however statistically the number of golfers aged beetween 5 an 75 to the number of back injurys must be a less than 2% amoung golfers.

Personally I think golf helps strengthen the back and aids flexability, it is also good and enjoyable exercise.

It has already been said but I think you may need to look at the swing and the amount of effort you put into it.

To your question, yes I have had very minor pulls that go in a week and this is always due to swinging to violent or not warming up.



Hope this helps


Ian.

__________________
Once you learn the swing, your next step is mastering golf psychology................

My swing is fine and I have been taking weekly lessons from a pro. My problem stems from hitting too hard with little or no warm up/stretching which turned into muscle spasms.

The spasms were so great that it forced my ribs to go out of place and get locked up. As I mentioned, with good warmup/streches and by trying to get the "gotta kill the ball" mentality out of the way, I will not experience such problems.

Ian,

Totally agree. My wife has chronic back pain. When she started playing golf with me however her problems were greatly reduced. Probably due to the strectching influence a well as strengthening. I have since learned to relax a bit and get much better results.

Try a chiropractor. My rib head popped out and caused a terrible pain that made it a chore to just breathe.

Chiropractor made some adjustments and I was back playing the next day. Still sore around the front and back due to muscle spasms but....in good shape quickly.