How do I strengthen my spine for golf?
Rachel Ellis
Published Jan 08, 2026
These 3 Exercises Will Keep Your Back Safe on the Golf Course
- Planks. For a tour-ready core, we recommend one exercise over all others: the plank. ...
- Seated Rotations. This exercise can help limber up your lumbar spine and keep your back safe as you follow through on every swing. ...
- Glute Bridges. ...
- Take Care of Your Spine.
How do you strengthen your spine?
7 Ways to Strengthen Your Spine
- Maintaining a neutral spine and avoiding twisting.
- Keeping your ears, shoulders, hips and knees in alignment.
- Supporting your lower back and keeping your feet flat on the floor while sitting in a chair.
Is golf good for your spine?
Low, middle, and upper back pain are common symptoms of golf-related injuries. Golf is a game of muscle memory, and its repetitive motions can lead to inflammation, strains, and other injuries of the muscles and discs of the spine, throwing you off your game.
How do I protect my back when playing golf?
Tips for Protecting Your Back on the Golf Course
- Raise your front heel during the backswing. ...
- Form an "I" between your hips and shoulders. ...
- Shorten the backswing to decrease the rotational and side bending movements on the lower back.
- Stand closer to the golf ball.
How do I stop my back from hurting when I play golf?
The following 4 aspects of the golf stance reduce risk of injury5:
- Keep the spine upright. Standing close to the ball will reduce the risk of bending the spine.
- Bend forward at the hips. ...
- Bend slightly at the knees. ...
- Keep the feet shoulder-width apart and rotated outwards.
Why am I so sore after playing golf?
The twisting and rotating that goes on during your golf swing can put a lot of stress on your back and for that reason, a little soreness now and then is very normal.
Why does golf make my back hurt?
Treatment options are mainly guided by the type and the severity of the injury that is sustained in the lower back. Three common types of injury from golf that need treatment include: Muscle strains. Rough, forceful golf swings or sudden shifts during the downswing can lead to strained muscles.
Can golf damage your back?
Although golf is a low-impact sport, it's associated with several injuries. Many golfing-related injuries are a result of poor mechanics or overuse. The most commonly injured area is the lower back. Other injured areas can include the elbow, wrist and hand, and shoulder.
Are planks good for golf?
The side plank is the best exercise for golfers, period! Start on your knees and putting your elbow right underneath your shoulder, and elevating your hip. Ensure that your butt is not sticking out, keeping a straight line between your shoulder, hip, and knee. Alternating Side Planks.
How do you strengthen your lower back?
How to strengthen the lower back
- Bridges.
- Knee-to-chest stretches.
- Lower back rotational stretches.
- Draw-in maneuvers.
- Pelvic tilts.
- Lying lateral leg lifts.
- Cat stretches.
- Supermans.
Should I play golf with a bad back?
For the millions of people who have long-standing low back pain, golf can still be an enjoyable sport. Using the right equipment, alongside a regular routine of stretching and low-impact exercise, will go a long way in helping maintain one's ability to play golf.
Does golf worsen sciatica?
Few golfers want to lose their favorite pastime to a back injury. However, the pain caused by ruptured discs, pinched nerves, spinal stenosis and sciatica can turn the act of swinging a golf club into a study in agony.
Does golf cause sciatica?
In golf, the lumbar region of the back undergoes strenuous activity because of continuous twisting and bending. Sometimes, this results in sciatica which can completely ruin life for a golfer.
What causes weak spine?
One of the most common causes of spinal cord compression is the gradual wear and tear on the bones of the spine, known as osteoarthritis. People who develop spinal cord compression from this are usually older than 50.
Which exercise is best for spine?
Today, we're here to share eight simple exercises you can do at home to safeguard your spine.
- Knee-to-chest stretch. Knee-to-chest stretches elongate your spine and reduce lower back pain. ...
- Rotational stretch. ...
- Pelvic tilt. ...
- Bridge. ...
- Partial abdominal curl. ...
- Cat-cow stretch. ...
- Shoulder blade squeeze. ...
- Chin-to-chest stretch.
What are 3 exercises that strengthen your back?
Exercises: Back Strengthening
- Transverse Abdominal Contraction: Lie on your back with both knees bent, feet flat. ...
- Bridging: Lie on your back with both knees bent. ...
- Gluteal Squeeze: Lie on your back with both knees bent and squeeze your buttocks together. ...
- Transverse Abdominal March: Lie on your back with both knees bent.
Are push ups good for golf?
For golfers, the true benefits of push-ups are that they strengthen the pectoral (chest) muscles and improve stability of soft tissue in the shoulders. The rotator cuff muscles and deltoids play a key role in controlling the positions of the club as you swing, but also in safely stopping the club.
Are squats good for golf?
Squats are a great exercise that work different areas of the body, particularly the trunk in keeping an upright position using the back extensors, and also the big powerful muscles of the quads and the gluts, which are really important in the golf swing.
Do golfers live longer than non golfers?
As golf can provide moderate-intensity physical activity – you can reap the rewards and outpace the grim reaper. A Swedish study found a 40% lower mortality rate amongst golfers, relative to non-golfers. That means a potential extra 5-years of life – regardless of age, or gender! Golfers live longer than non-golfers.
What is the most common injury in golf?
8 of the Most Common Golf Injuries
- Golf Back Injuries or Pain. ...
- Rotator Cuff Injury. ...
- Golfer's Elbow. ...
- Golf Wrist Injury Like Tendonitis. ...
- Knee Pain or Injury. ...
- Foot and Ankle Injuries. ...
- Golf Hip Injury. ...
- Sunburn.
What club is used to tee off?
This means you can tee off with a driver, hybrid, wood, iron, or even a putter. The USGA has no rules on which clubs a golfer can or cannot tee off with.
Why am I so tired after playing golf?
While playing golf may not require as much physical energy as a sport like basketball or football, fatigue can set in during a full-length golf game as 18 holes take an average of four hours to complete. [ii] When fatigue sets in during golf, it usually occurs during the final or back nine holes.
How do you recover from a golf round?
Rest and nutrition
Rest is the best thing you can do to aid your recovery after an active few days of golfing. Give your body time to rehabilitate by getting adequate sleep and only participating in gentle exercise such as walking - this will boost blood flow to your muscles.
Is golf a good workout?
Golf can be good for your health and your heart. Walking an average course for a round of golf can be between five to seven kilometres. If you walk 18 holes three to five times a week, you'll get an optimal amount of endurance exercise for your heart.
Does golf cause piriformis syndrome?
High activity level sports such as skiing, tennis or long-distance bikers can cause piriformis syndrome. A golfers swing can also cause piriformis syndrome.