Why isn’t Golfing with Neck or Back Pain OK?

Why isn’t Golfing with Neck or Back Pain OK?

If you play a lot of golf, there is a chance that you might have experienced an occasional painful twinge in your neck or back. This can happen to anyone on the course, young or old, man or woman, scratch golfer or duffer. Even the smoothest golf swing places a great deal of stress and strain on the muscles, tendons, ligaments, vertebrae, and other components of the spine. The cervical (neck) and lumbar (lower back) regions are particularly vulnerable, because they are the most flexible regions of the spine and they support the weight of the head and upper body, respectively.

Muscles, Ligaments Usually to Blame

In most cases – emphasis here on most – the neck or back twinges golfers experience occasionally on the course or on the driving range are related to a muscle strain or a ligament sprain. These injuries are not due to structural problems within the spine. Rather, they are related to overexertion or other factors (which will be examined below). Even though it might hurt quite a bit when it happens, a golfer usually can look forward to being back out on the course within days. In fact, all it might take to manage the symptoms is a dose of ibuprofen, naproxen, or acetaminophen.

It Could be More Serious

Every now and then, though, the pain is a sign of a more serious physical condition. The spine’s anatomical components begin to wear down over time, and repetitive physical activity such as golfing can exacerbate the deterioration of intervertebral discs, cartilage-lined vertebral joints, and other components of the spinal anatomy. It might be that a golfer already has osteoarthritis of the spine, which is a wearing down of the cartilage that lines the spine’s joints. Or, perhaps degenerative disc disease has begun to take a toll. In either case, the strenuous act of swinging a golf club is not going to help mitigate symptoms.

What Could it Be?

There are a number of anatomical abnormalities that can potentially arise because of spinal arthritis and degenerative disc disease, or simply because of normal, age-related wear and tear on the spine. These conditions include:

• Bulging discs
• Herniated discs
• Osteophytes (bone spurs)
• Ligament ossification
• Spondylolisthesis (vertebral slippage)

These conditions cannot be self-diagnosed. In fact, unless you begin to experience pain and other symptoms, there’s a chance that you might never even know that you have a condition like a herniated disc. After all, everyone experiences neck or back pain every now and then – especially those who remain physically active playing golf or other sports. However, if the pain becomes persistent, or if it is accompanied by other symptoms such as tingling, numbness, or muscle weakness in the extremities, there is a chance that you could be suffering from nerve compression.

What to do About Nerve Compression

If extreme neck or back pain strikes during a round of golf, don’t try to tough it out. No matter where you might be on the course, head in to the clubhouse and consider making an appointment to see your primary care physician as soon as possible. Continuing to play after experiencing pain related to spinal nerve compression could create further problems and make it difficult to manage the symptoms going forward.

Of course, your doctor will want to have as much information as possible about your symptoms. So, before you go to the office, order your thoughts regarding when you began feeling pain, what you were doing when it happened, and where, exactly, on your neck or back you are experiencing pain. Your doctor might order x-rays or other medical imaging to determine the extent and precise nature of your injury or condition.