healthspin
take back your game
Jared M. Rochelle, MD
North Oaks Pain Management
18
If the pain in your back is par
for the course, you may want to take
steps to relieve it before it becomes
so bad you barely get to the links.
Although most people will
experience back pain sometime in
their lives, it can really play havoc
with your golf game and slow down
your pace. There are many causes
of back pain, and some are due
to lifestyle choices and age. Other
back pain causes include accidents,
muscle strains and sports injuries.
Roy, 54, is a golfer who suffered a
back injury years ago while mowing
his lawn. Before he developed back
problems, he was a 6 handicap.
Today, he is lucky to chalk up a 15
handicap.
“Every time I take a swing with
my club, it sends a sharp pain down
my leg,” he shares. “My doctor says
it is probably ‘structural.’ But, it’s
definitely hurting my game.”
The back is an intricate structure
of bones, muscles and other tissues.
The centerpiece of the structure is
the spine, which is highly prone to
injury because it is subject to many
strong forces: torque and t