[Health Tip] A Perfect Day for Golf, Take Care of Your 'Spine Health'

As warm spring arrives, the number of people visiting golf courses is increasing. Golf is commonly perceived as a sport with a low risk of injury, but it is not uncommon to find cases where the repetitive one-sided swinging motion puts strain on the lower back, leading to musculoskeletal disorders. Spring golfers should be aware of health practices to prevent spinal injuries.

Golf reference photo. [Image source=Pixabay]

A representative injury is lower back pain. The cause is unilateral exercise involving rotation of the body to one side. When muscles on only one side develop asymmetrically, body balance is disrupted, placing strain on the pelvis and lower back. When swinging a golf club vigorously, the discs (intervertebral discs) that act as cushions between the vertebrae can twist and become damaged. In severe cases, this can lead to musculoskeletal injuries such as a herniated disc (lumbar disc herniation), where the disc protrudes or ruptures.

Park Wonsang, director of Gwanghwamun Jaseng Korean Medicine Hospital, said, "While it is understandable that people want to fully enjoy golf as the weather warms, the lower back is a common injury site even for professional golfers, so extra caution is necessary. If you experience severe pain around your lower back after a round, it is best to visit a nearby medical institution for examination rather than pushing through the exercise."

To enjoy golf safely, it is also important to do sufficient stretching before and after rounds. One helpful exercise is the 'quadriceps relaxation stretch.' First, place your knees and the tops of your feet on the ground and keep your spine straight, then bend your right knee at a 90-degree angle. Next, place both hands on your right knee and slowly shift your center of gravity forward. Hold the position for 15 seconds, then repeat three times on the opposite side. This helps relax the muscles around the lower back and pelvis, alleviating stiffness and pain.

Quadriceps relaxation stretching.
Photo by Jaseng Oriental Medicine Hospital

In Korean medicine, treatments such as Chuna therapy, acupuncture, and herbal prescriptions combine to create a synergistic effect in integrated Korean medicine treatment for lower back pain and herniated discs. Integrated Korean medicine treatment has also proven effective for treating failed back surgery syndrome. According to research published by the Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute in the SCI(E)-level journal Journal of Clinical Medicine, patients with failed back surgery syndrome who received integrated Korean medicine treatment showed a decrease in their Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for lower back pain from a moderate level of 5.77 at admission to a mild level of 3.15 at discharge. The NRS is a scale from 0 to 10 that measures the intensity of pain experienced by the patient, with higher numbers indicating more severe symptoms.

Director Park said, "When picking up golf balls or placing tees, it is necessary to minimize spinal strain by bending not only the lower back but also the knees together. I hope everyone takes care of their spine health starting this spring so they can enjoy golf safely and happily."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.