Study of Trunk Movement Deficits in Golfers with Low Back Pain

Improper swing mechanics and sub-optimal physical fitness have been considered to be associated with the low back injuries in golfers. These factors may affect a golfer's back by increasing spinal loads during the golf swing. Thus an understanding of the swing and physical characteristics simultaneously with the loads generated by their interactions in golfers with and without LBP can be used to analyse the mechanisms of low back injuries in golfers. The purpose of this scientific paper is to study the prevalence of low back pain in golfers and to assess the trunk movement deficits. The physical characteristics assessed included trunk strength&flexibility. The cross-section study evaluated 15 pairs of right-handed golfers matched by golf handicap equal to or lower than 20,between the ages of 25-65 years. Group 1 (history of low back pain greater than 2 weeks affecting quality of play within past 1 year) and Group 2 (no previous such history). The independent variable is group and the dependent variables are the trunk strength, range of motion&flexibility. The mean age for the golfers with LBP was found to be 44.6 years. Trunk flexors, extensors&rotators of the subjects of LBP group showed less strength than their counterparts. The LBP group also had flexibility deficits along with a positive hamstrings tightness. The LBP group demonstrated less ROM in trunk rotation&an increased finger-to-floor distance on the non-lead side. Golfers with LBP may suffer low back injuries due to the inappropriate combination of physical characteristics that prevents dissipation of the tremendous spinal forces and moments generated by the golf swing over time. Spinal instability may contribute to repetitive injuries and a progressive decline of core stability.