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Can bowling hurt your back?

Author

Daniel Moore

Published Jan 13, 2026

For a low-impact sport that's as popular among older Americans as it is with younger generations, bowling poses considerable risks for back strains, sprains, spasms and other spine injuries.

How do you bowl without hurting your back?

Bowling With A Bad Back

  1. Do smooth and slow stretching exercises before rolling the bowling ball. ...
  2. Preset your spine angle in your stance position to match your preferred finish position at the foul line. ...
  3. Keep your head as motionless as possible while walking to the foul line.

What muscles get sore from bowling?

Most Common Tenpin Bowling Injuries

  • Thumb and finger sprain;
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome;
  • DeQuervain's syndrome;
  • Biceps tendinopathy;
  • Elbow injuries, including lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) and tendinitis;
  • Shoulder Injuries, including rotator cuff tear or strain;
  • Lower back pain;
  • Adductor (groin) strain;

Should I bowl with lower back pain?

The movements required to bowl would be very painful with a lower back injury. You have to bend forward and straighten up. The arm swing will be restricted, and it will be hard to get down into the finishing position.

Why is my body sore after bowling?

Bowling involves forceful extension of the thigh, which is the gluteus maximus muscle, as well as other muscles in the hip to maintain stability. Two games were enough to exhaust that muscle, and the untrained muscle will often suffer small tears, which take days to heal properly.

19 related questions found

Why does my lower back hurt after bowling?

Many studies report that using a mixed bowling technique can lead to a greater risk of lower back injury than side or front techniques. Symptoms include feeling an obvious back ache on the opposite side to bowling hand dominance. Others also have tighter hamstrings than normal and a noticeable arched lower back.

What are the most common bowling injuries?

Common Bowling Injuries

  • Elbow Tendonitis.
  • Wrist Tendonitis.
  • Anular ligament sprain.
  • Lateral Epicondylitis.
  • Shoulder Tendonitis.
  • Rotator Cuff Tear.
  • Shoulder Instability.
  • Knee Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL)

Why is bowling good for you?

Exercise, including bowling, lowers your risk of stroke, heart attacks, diabetes, increases bone density, improves circulation, lowers cholesterol levels and blood pressure, and helps your body utilize oxygen better. Try to bowl once or more each week for optimum benefits.

Can back pain be related to bowel problems?

What many people do not realize is that bowel problems are also related to lower back pain. The truth is that bowel problems and lower back pain are inextricably linked. This is because the nerves of both the back and the abdominal area run through the lower part of the spine.

Is bowling good exercise for seniors?

Bowling is an especially good form of exercise for seniors. Depending on your weight, and bowling style, you may burn up to 250 calories per hour bowling. Bowling a 3-game series involves walking over half a mile while swinging an 8-16-pound weight.

How do you recover from bowling?

5 Ways to recover from a hard day's cricket

  1. Compression tights. Research has show that tights increase the flow of blood to muscles in the legs, and more blood means more oxygen which leads to a quicker recovery. ...
  2. Foam rolling. ...
  3. Increasing blood flow. ...
  4. Sleeping. ...
  5. Eating.

Why does my biceps hurt after bowling?

One of many bicep injuries that can occur while bowling is biceps tendinitis. This happens due to repeated arm swings at improper form. Consult with other bowlers or research online proper technique and form to make sure you are bowling correctly.

What is bowler's thumb?

Bowler's thumb is a rare perineural fibrosis involving the ulnar digital nerve of the thumb. Affected patients present with pain, neuropathy, and mass lesion. The condition is caused by chronic repetitive impaction of the ulnar soft tissues of the thumb against the thumbhole of a bowling ball.

Can you get tendonitis from bowling?

When bowling, the shoulder repeats fast swinging motions frequently, which can lead to shoulder tendonitis. The repetition of the bowling motion makes this injury very common, whether you're a professional or amateur. Shoulder tendonitis can occur from improper technique, such as throwing the ball with too much force.

Do Covid patients have back pain?

People have said the most common problems after being unwell with coronavirus are shoulder and back problems, but joint and muscle problems can occur in any part of the body. Some people have widespread aching that can come and go for a time as you recover.

Can inflamed bowel cause back pain?

Back Pain Is Common in Inflammatory Bowel Disease; May Be Spondyloarthritis.

Can trapped gas cause back pain?

Most of the time, gas is no more than a minor annoyance. However, gas occasionally produces intense pain that makes the entire abdomen feel full and tender. This pain can radiate to the back, causing back pain and bloating. Minor gastrointestinal problems, such as stomach viruses, may also cause intense gas pain.

Can you gain muscle from bowling?

Each time you bowl, you utilize your arms, shoulders, wrists, and legs to propel the ball down the lane. The more you bowl, the more muscle strength you'll build. This is especially true if you increase the weight of your ball as you continue to bowl.

Does bowling build muscle?

Bowling is a great way to get some exercise, as it can burn more than 200 calories an hour, which can vary based on how heavy your ball is, and how many times you bowl. Bowling also uses and builds 134 muscles, improving your balance, and increasing your hand-to-eye coordination.

Is bowling a stress reliever?

Bowling improves muscle strength, flexibility and is a great stress reliever. Lots of muscle groups are involved in bowling. Swinging a 15-pound ball around for multiple games can get tiring if these muscles aren't strengthened. Each time you bowl, you are using your arms, shoulders, wrists, and upper leg muscles.

Why does my hip hurt from bowling?

A sport injury characterized by chronic deep pain in the hip. It is caused by inflammation of the iliopsoas tendon (iliopsoas tendinitis) and the bursa at the attachment point of the tendon on the inner part of the femur just below the hip.

How do I know if I have damaged my rotator cuff?

Signs of a rotator cuff tear include: Difficulty and pain caused by raising your arm. Popping or clicking sounds or sensations when moving your arm. Shoulder pain that worsens at night or when resting your arm.

Do bowlers get carpal tunnel?

Most people associate this painful occurrence with computer users and mechanics. However, bowlers can suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome, as well. If you feel numbness or tingling in your forearm and hand, it's likely that a nerve in your wrist is compressed.

How do you prevent side strains?

Preventing side strain

In many cases, side strain is caused by overuse so it is important to rest the muscles between exercise sessions; bowlers should have a break after a certain number of overs. Keeping the muscles warm will also help to prevent injury.

Why does my back hurt after playing cricket?

Low back pain is the general term for any pain in the back. The repetitive action of bowling is the biggest cause of low back pain in cricket, but bending to field the ball and standing in the field for prolonged periods also put stress on the back which can cause back pain.