11/05/2026
⛳ Does your lower back feel tight after a round of golf? It may be working harder than it should during your swing.
As an orthopedic surgeon and avid golfer, one thing I want golfers to understand is how their spine actually moves during the golf swing.
Your lower back isn’t designed to provide most of your rotation. It allows relatively little rotation compared to your hips and your mid-back (thoracic spine).
When your hips or mid-back lack mobility, your body may compensate by changing how it moves, potentially placing additional stress on your lower back. Repeat that over an entire round, and those added demands may contribute to discomfort.
Here’s something you can do before your next round: spend a few minutes improving hip mobility and gently rotating your upper back before you move on to full-speed swings.
And remember, not all golf-related back pain comes from poor mobility. Understanding the underlying cause matters.
That’s why I created Pain Free Golf: to combine my medical knowledge with my passion for golf and help golfers stay healthy and enjoy the game for years to come.
Do you warm up before you play, or head straight to the first tee? Tell me in the comments.
💬 Comment SPINE and I’ll send you my Common Golf Injuries eBook to help you understand common golf injuries and reduce your risk of injury.
Share this with your playing partners, especially the one who always mentions their back by the back nine.
Move Better. Play Longer. Pain Free.