Lower back pain!

Hi Guys, being 6'2" i have always been prone to abit of back ache but just recently I have been suffering from lower back problems, it will seem fine sometimes but then if I turn or bend in certain directions I get a sharp shooting pain. In the past I have been prone to a poor posture, i tend to slouch in chairs etc, i have been trying to sit more upright and walk tall. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Any help would be most gratefully accepted.

not sure how it works in the uk, but I would see an orthopedist, particulary if you are having shooting pains to rule out disc disease. if that turns out to be fine, would ask for a referral to a physical therapist to give you some back and posture exercises.

I went to see the doctor about it and he said he couldnt find anything physically wrong and suggested it was down to my height and that I should try some strengthening exercises.

As someone who has suffered a golfers back problems for years and tried EVERYTHING, I have found one thing that is INCREDIBLE for me and very simple. Get yourself an exercise ball and do back bends over it. Anytime my back is sore or a little tight I get on that ball. I don't even have to stay in that position very long. It is unbelievable what this does. It seems to opens the discs, you can roll a little and it works and messages the hips. Try it, I hope it helps you like it has helped me...

Hi,

Back pain in life as it is in golf is usually about poor posture that means you have recruited muscle in an asymetrical fashion (one side being shorter and tighter than the other) this can also be true between the front and the back. Much back pain can be due to poor stomach muscles - your core. Coincidentally your core - Transverse abdominus, Internal obliques, rectus abdominus and external obliques come on (or not) the moment the club leaves the ground at address. If you have poor abdominals your back will be compensating. As you are so tall you are naturally creating more torque in your lower back than other shorter people.

Listen to no one until you have been given the all clear by a physiotherapist not a chiropractor. Some diseases of the spine/discs can be made worse by exercising. Check it out first and get back to the forum if you wish. You can also look at getting Chek practioner to help. I seem to remember that they are listed on the web at the Chek institute - even all the UK based personel.

Hope this helps.

I definately agree with all of that...

Leepy where is your pain shooting to?

I suffer from a degenerative disc in the lower back. I have had this bad back since I was knee high to a grasshopper.

It wasn't until the birth of my first son that I went to the Doctor requesting further examination. Both the x-ray and cat scan didn't show anything previous to this.

I spoke to my Doctor about my concerns. I got a referral to a surgeon. I had an MRI. This showed the disc problem.

After finding out what the problem was the surgeon made suggestions and placed restrictions on me.

Surgery is a last resort. He said that I could come back anytime BUT if I had pain going down the back of my legs I should see him straight away.

I have to remain fit and keep the weight off. The best things for me are walking, swimming and cycling. I still do my weights. I'm not allowed to run, do situps, squats and many other things.

I have massage once a fortnight to loosen the hamstrings and glutes. I take one table of glucosmene 1000mg morn and night.

The surgeon said that golf won't be a problem - yee ha!!

Just a side issue - I'm 5'10". Have you noticed how many of us tall people bend from the waist and not the knees. I too think that this is a contributing factor to lower back pain. Where do you bend Leepy.

A golfing tip when at address my left foot is slightly open - pointing to 11 o'clock. This helps me follow through and places less stress on my back.

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VP

I'm a right handed golfer. I also take the cleets out of my left heel. I think this helps take a little stress off my back during the finish of the swing..

I think it tends to shoot up, to be honest ive never really paid it much attention. I think most of it comes from slouching on the sofa and working bent over a desk. I have been making a effort to sit more up right, i suppose over the years Ive neglected my back and only now im getting older it is causing a problem. I have just started to use the carry bag for the winter and so far so good, no problems, i dont seem to have any problems playing golf, although I would probably say that if had 2 broken arms!!! Just recently it has eased and this is mainly down to sitting upright and trying not to do too much bending over a table, i think I am going to work on some back strengthing exercises, i have been abit lapse in going to the gym and i think it is no fluke that it has got abit worse. Thanks for all your help guys, theres plenty there to think about!!

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Leepy

Driver: Taylormade R7 9.5 stiff
4+ wood: Callaway steelhead 3
Rescue club: Taylormade
Irons: Mizuno MP-32 stiff shaft
PW: Cleveland 900 series
SW: Cleveland 900 series
LW: Cleveland CG10
Putter: Odyssey 2ball steel insert blade
Ball: Callaway HX Tour Black

Leepy I have a PhD in back pain owing to a collision – while stopped on a motorcycle I was re-ended by an impaired car driver.

In addition to the other replies, a firm bed is crucial. If your bed no longer has the proper springs/supports your ligaments will be stretched and you will feel it in the morning and later in the day. The literature says as much, and I didn’t realize the connection until I went on vacations and my back hurt much less – the hotel beds were much better than mine. If you want to correct your posture you will need to build your core muscles.

In terms of golf, I heard or read, and I may need to be corrected on this point, but Tiger adopted a more “rounded” swing which puts less pressure on your back and is easier on the body, especially as you age.. So there are different kinds of golf swings and some put more pressure on your back then others. I have thought about this, since sometimes after a round my lower back is very sore– so a more rounded type of swing is something I would consider.

Best of luck,

James

Thanks James, as it happens I am currently working on a more rounded swing so thats good news. We used to have a soft bed and i used to get a sore back but a few years ago we invested in a posturepedic bed which was alot firmer, it took abit of time to get used to but now I hate sleeping on soft beds, theres no bed like home!!!! Do you have any exercises you would recommend for strengthening the core muscles??

Do you have any exercises you would recommend for strengthening the core muscles??[/quote]

This is pretty good for a start.

Good luck.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/core-strength/SM00047



http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/bestabexercises/