Why Your Back Hurts After Golf — and What to Do About It
Dr. Elyse Harrop, PT, DPT, OCS on the blog today!
If your back hurts after a round of golf, you’re not alone. Low back pain is one of the most common complaints among golfers, and it’s not just about getting older or swinging too hard. It usually comes down to how your body is moving (or not moving) during your swing.
Common Causes of Back Pain in Golfers
Loss of Pelvic Control (S-Posture or Reverse Spine Angle)
Poor control of the pelvis during your setup or swing can overload your lumbar spine. An overly arched (S-posture) or twisted (reverse spine) setup often leads to compensations during the backswing and follow-through.
Poor Hip Mobility
If your hips are stiff, your spine will try to create rotation it shouldn’t be responsible for. This often leads to shearing forces and overuse in the lumbar spine, especially during the downswing.
Lack of Core Stability
Your core is supposed to act like a strong cylinder that transfers force from your legs through your trunk. Weak or uncoordinated core muscles = poor force transfer = more strain on your spine.
Limited Thoracic Spine Rotation
When the upper back doesn’t rotate well, the lower back tries to do the job. This can contribute to disc irritation, facet joint overload, or general soreness.
Repetitive Stress Without Recovery
Even small movement faults can turn into big problems when repeated over hundreds of swings without proper recovery or mobility work.
How Physical Therapy Can Help
We are movement experts who understand how the body should function during golf. We don’t just treat your pain, we find out what’s causing it.
We’ll assess:
How well you move through your swing
Which areas are tight, weak, or out of balance
How to relieve pain and improve your mechanics
Then we’ll build a plan tailored to you so you can swing freely, play longer, and feel better after every round. If you’re noticing back pain during or after golf, take care of it before it takes you off the course!
